plant named ‘KLEPH19198’

Abstract

A new Petunia plant particularly distinguished by having a brilliant magenta with a well-defined white star along mid-veins of corolla lobes and a semi-trailing plant habit, is disclosed.

Description

Genus and species: Petunia hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEPH19198’.

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 ‘KLEPH19198’. ‘KLEPH19198’ is a selection from a cross-pollination of the proprietary female Petunia line ‘PH-2014-0044’ (unpatented) and the commercial male Petunia line ‘Peppy Purple’ (unpatented).

In July of 2014, the proprietary female Petunia line ‘PH-2014-0044’ and the proprietary male Petunia line ‘Peppy Purple’ 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 2015 in Latina, Italy and named ‘KLEPH19198’. In May 2015, ‘KLEPH19198’ was first vegetatively propagated by terminal tip cuttings and tissue culture in Latina, Italy. ‘KLEPH19198’ 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. Brilliant magenta with a well-defined white star along mid-veins of corolla lobes; and
  • 2. 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 11 weeks old grown in Stuttgart, Germany in March 2020. 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 ‘KLEPH19198’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Latina, Italy. Data was collected on fourteen-week-old plants grown indoors in Latina, Italy under greenhouse conditions in March 2020. 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.—‘KLEPH19198’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female.—Proprietary Petunia line ‘PH-2014-0044’.
    • Male.—Proprietary Petunia line ‘Peppy Purple’.
• Plant:
  • • Form and habit.—Medium vigor plant with semi-trailing habit.
    • Height (from top of soil).—About 15.0 cm.
    • Width (horizontal plant diameter).—About 30.0 cm.
    • Propagation.—Time to produce a finished flowering plant: 12 to 14 weeks in winter under short day conditions, about 8 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).—About 5.
    • Length of basal branches (from the base of the stem to the tip).—Up to 15.0 cm.
    • Internode length.—Up to 2.5 cm.
    • Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—About 0.3 cm.
    • Stem color.—RHS 144B.
    • Anthocyanin.—Present at leaf margin RHS N92A.
    • Texture.—Pubescent.
• Leaves:
  • • Arrangement.—Alternate along the stem, opposite under the inflorescence.
    • Length.—Up to 6.0 cm.
    • Width.—Up to 3.0 cm.
    • Shape.—Elliptic.
    • Apex.—Acute.
    • Base.—Attenuate.
    • Margin.—Entire.
    • Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137A. Lower surface: RHS 137C.
    • Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137A. Lower surface: RHS 137C.
    • Texture.—Upper surface: Pubescent. Lower surface: Pubescent.
    • Venation pattern.—Arcuate.
    • Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 144A. Lower surface: RHS 144C.
    • Petioles.—Length: Up to 1.0 cm. Diameter: About 0.3 cm. Color: RHS 144B. Texture: Pubescent.
• Flower bud:
  • • Shape.—Irregularly oblong.
    • Length.—About 3.5 cm.
    • Diameter.—0.8 cm.
    • Color at tight bud.—RHS 145B along the body of the bud and RHS 79B toward the tip.
    • Texture.—Slightly pubescent.
• Inflorescence:
  • • Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously flowering during spring and summertime.
    • Inflorescence type.—Sympodial, with monochasial growth.
    • Number of flowers per node.—1.
    • Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 12 days.
    • Fragrance.—Not detected.
    • Flowers.—Arrangement: Composed of 5 fused petals. Diameter (flower face): Up to 6.0 cm. Depth (total length of flower): Up to 5.5 cm. Throat/Funnel: Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter (at opening): About 1.0 cm. Texture: Inner surface: Smooth. Outer surface: Pubescent. Color: Inner surface: RHS NN155B. Outer surface: RHS 157B. Petals: Color, mature flower (fully opened): Upper surface: RHS most similar N78A and RHS 69D along mid-veins of corolla lobes. Lower surface: RHS 72B and RHS N155B along mid-veins of corolla lobes. Apex: Truncate. Base: Fused. Shape: Salverform. Margin: Entire. Strength of waviness: Absent or very weak. Degree of lobation: Medium.
    • Calyx arrangement.—Composed of 5 sepals fused at the base.
    • Sepals.—Color: Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS 137C and RHS N92A toward the base. Length: Up to 2.5 cm. Width: Up to 0.6 cm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Pubescent. Lower surface: Pubescent.
    • Pedicels.—Color: RHS 144A. Length: Up to 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.15 cm. Texture: Pubescent.
• Reproductive organs:
  • • Stamens.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Needle with oblong head. Filament: Length: Up to 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 0.05 cm. Color: RHS N155D. Anther: Shape: Oblong. Color: RHS 10C. Length: about 0.2 cm. Diameter: About 0.15 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS 158A. Amount: Sparse.
    • Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1. Length: About 2.2 cm. Stigma color: RHS 157C. Style color: RHS 145A.
• Fruit and seed set: None observed.
• Disease and pest/insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPH19198’ is a distinct variety of Petunia. ‘KLEPH19198’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1
Comparison with Parental Lines
	Variety	Female parent	Male Parent
Trait	‘KLEPH19198’	‘PH-2014-0044’	‘Peppy Purple’
Flower	Brilliant magenta with a	Magenta purple	Purple and
color	well defined white star	with unregular	white bicolor
	along mid-veins of	yellow zones
	corolla lobes
Plant habit	Semi trailing	Semi-trailing	Upright

‘KLEPH19198’ is most similar to the commercial Petunia plant named ‘Peppy Purple’ (unpatented). Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2
Comparison with Similar Variety
	Variety	Commercial line
Characteristic	‘KLEPH19198’	‘Peppy Purple’
Plant habit	Semi trailing	Upright
Color pattern	Very stable white star along	Color distribution variable
	mid-vein of corolla lobes	and playing in different
		environmental conditions

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Petunia plant named ‘KLEPH19198’ as illustrated and described herein.