plant named ‘KLEPH15261’

Abstract

A new petunia plant particularly distinguished by having a yellow flower color with a uniform corolla, a medium vigor and a semi-trailing plant habit, is disclosed.

Description

Genus and species: Petunia hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEPH15261’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of petunia, botanically known as Petunia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEPH15261’. ‘KLEPH15261’ is a selection from a cross-pollination of the proprietary female petunia line ‘PH-2011-2754’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male petunia line ‘PH-2009-1258’ (unpatented).

In July of 2011, the proprietary female petunia line ‘PH-2011-2754’ and the proprietary male petunia line ‘PH-2009-1258’ were cross pollinated in Latina, Italy and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and plants were grown for evaluation. A plant line was selected in April 2012 in Latina, Italy and named ‘KLEPH15261’. In May 2012, ‘KLEPH15261’ was first vegetatively propagated by terminal tip cuttings and tissue culture in Latina, Italy. ‘KLEPH15261’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via tissue culture and terminal tip cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Latina, Italy.

• • 1. Yellow flower color with a uniform corolla;
  • 2. A medium vigor; and
  • 3. A semi-trailing plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph, which shows a close-up of the flower of the plant. The plant is about 3 months-old grown in Stuttgart, Germany in April 2014.

The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEPH15261’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Latina, Italy. Data was collected on ten-week-old plants grown indoors in Latina, Italy under greenhouse conditions in February 2015. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^th edition (2007).

• Classification:
  • • Family.—Solanaceae.
    • Species.—Petunia hybrida.
    • Common name.—Petunia.
    • Variety.—‘KLEPH15261’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female.—Proprietary petunia line ‘PH-2011-2754’.
    • Male.—Proprietary petunia line ‘PH-2009-1258’.
• Plant:
  • • Form.—Medium vigor.
    • Habit.—Semi-trailing.
    • Height (from top of soil).—About 7.0 cm.
    • Width (horizontal plant diameter).—About 16.0 cm.
    • Propagation.—Terminal tip cuttings.
    • Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 13 weeks in winter under short day conditions, 7 weeks in spring.
    • Time to initiate and develop roots.—2 to 3 weeks.
    • Root description.—Moderate density, moderate branching, white roots.
• Stems:
  • • Average number (basal).—10.
    • Length of basal branches (from the base of the stem to the tip).—About 9.0 cm.
    • Internode length.—0.4 cm to 1.0 cm.
    • Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—0.4 cm.
    • Stem color.—RHS 145D.
    • Anthocyanin.—Absent.
    • Texture.—Tomentose.
• Leaves:
  • • Arrangement.—Alternate.
    • Length.—5.0 cm to 7.0 cm.
    • Width.—2.0 cm to 2.7 cm.
    • Shape.—Elliptic.
    • Apex.—Acute.
    • Base.—Attenuate.
    • Margin.—Entire.
    • Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137D. Lower surface: RHS 146B.
    • Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137B. Lower surface: RHS 146B.
    • Texture.—Upper and lower surfaces: Tomentose.
    • Venation pattern.—Arcuate.
    • Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS N137B. Lower surface: RHS 145A.
    • Petioles.—Length: About 1.0 cm. Diameter: 0.4 cm. Color: RHS 145B. Texture: Tomentose.
• Flower bud:
  • • Shape.—Irregular oblong.
    • Length.—4.5 cm.
    • Diameter.—0.7 cm.
    • Color at tight bud.—RHS 145B at the base and RHS 150C at the top.
    • Texture.—Slightly pubescent.
• Inflorescence:
  • • Blooming habit (flowering season).—Permanent flowering during summertime.
    • Inflorescence type.—Cymose.
    • Number of flowers per node.—1.
    • Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About one week.
    • Fragrance.—Absent.
    • Flowers.—Arrangement: Composed of 5 petals fused at the base. Diameter (flower face): 6.0 cm. Depth (total length of flower): 6.0 cm. Throat/Funnel: Length: 3.3 cm. Diameter (at opening): 1.5 cm. Texture: Inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Inner surface: RHS 7A. Outer surface: RHS 150C. Petals: Color, mature flower (fully opened): Upper surface: Margin color of RHS 4D with veins of RHS 7A to RHS 7B (strong vein color provides the main color of the flower). Lower surface: RHS 4A. Apex: Mucronate. Base: Fused. Shape: Fused in a funnel. Margin: Entire. Strength of waviness: Weak. Degree of lobation: Weak.
    • Calyx arrangement.—Actinomorphic, composed of 5 sepals. Sepals: Color: Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS 137C. Length: 1.7 cm to 2.0 cm. Width: 0.4 cm. Shape: Narrowly oblong. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper and lower surface: Pubescent.
    • Pedicels.—Color: RHS 144A. Length: 3.8 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Texture: Pubescent.
• Reproductive organs:
  • • Stamens.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Needle like with elliptic head. Filament: Length: 1.3 cm. Diameter: 0.05 cm. Color: RHS 2D. Anther: Shape: Elliptic-oblong. Color: RHS 8B. Length: 0.2 cm. Diameter: 0.15 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS 11B. Amount: Abundant.
    • Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1. Length: 2.7 cm. Stigma color: RHS 143A. Style color: RHS 145A.
• Fruit and seed set: None observed.
• Disease and pest insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPH15261’ is a distinct variety of petunia. ‘KLEPH15261’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1
Comparison with Parental Lines
	Variety	Female parent	Male Parent
Trait	‘KLEPH15261’	‘PH-2011-2754’	‘PH-2009-1258’
Flower	More uniform	Darker color than	Lighter margin than
color	corolla color than	‘KLEPH15261’	‘KLEPH15261’
	the parental lines		with a yellow center
Earliness	About two weeks		About two
	earlier than		weeks later than
	‘PH-2009-1258’		‘KLEPH15261’

‘KLEPH15261’ is most similar to the commercial petunia plant named Sunshine Ray (patent status unknown). Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2
Comparison with Similar Variety
	Variety	Commercial line
Characteristic	‘KLEPH15261’	Sunshine Ray
Flower color	Yellow face and margin	Lighter margin and
		stronger vein center than
		‘KLEPH15261’

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of petunia plant named ‘KLEPH15261’ as illustrated and described herein.