plant named ‘Ashiro 29-2030’

Abstract

A new variety of Gentiana L. plant (Japanese gentian) which has a color of inner side of lobes which is strong purplish blue (96C on RHS Colour Chart) and a time of flowering in mid-October.

Description

Botanical classification: Gentiana L. hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Ashiro 29-2030’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Japanese gentian, Gentiana L., which has been given the variety denomination ‘Ashiro 29-2030’.

This new gentian has a color of inner side of lobes which is strong purplish blue (96C on RHS Colour Chart) and a time of flowering in mid-October. It is adapted for use as cut flowers or pot flowers.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The variety resulted from a multiple-step cross-breeding program starting from a group of unpatented varieties. The ancestor varieties were unpatented strains owned by the applicant, having the company-internal names: ‘17INP’ which belongs to the species Gentiana triflora, and ‘26-904’, ‘12-316-3’, ‘17SUP’, and ‘8-130SP6A1’, which belong to the species Gentiana scabra. Group crosses and/or self-crosses with a single individual were performed. The program had seven steps, as shown in the map of FIG. 6, which also indicates the company-internal names of the intermediary, unpatented strains. At each step, the individuals with good plant and flower shape were selected. The corresponding species identification is ((scabraxtriflora)xscabra))x((scabraxtriflora)xscabra)).

The multiple-step cross-breeding program was performed over multiple growing seasons up to 2018; in October 2018, selection of the variety was performed. We asexually reproduced the variety by vegetative reproduction through cuttings, tissue culturing via lateral bud culture, and in October 2020, the new variety was found to be stable and asexually reproduced true to type in successive generations.

The variety was developed and propagated in Iwate, Japan.

The variety can be propagated by cutting (optimal timing is mid-February) and/or tissue culturing via lateral bud culture.

Cultivation of the variety does not require particular conditions. Maintenance and storage method of the plant material can be by tissue culture via lateral bud culture.

The variety is adapted for use as cut flowers or pot flowers.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The variety is distinguished by the color of inner side of lobes being strong purplish blue (96C on RHS Colour Chart) and by its time of flowering in mid-October, as compared to ‘Shine Blue Ashiro’ variety whose color of inner side of lobes is strong blue (N95A on the RHS Colour Chart) and whose time of flowering in late September. ‘Shine Blue Ashiro’ is unpatented.

A comparison with Shine Blue Ashiro variety is presented as follows in Table 1:

TABLE 1
	Shine Blue Ashiro	Ashiro 29-2030
Color of inner	Strong blue (N95A on	strong purplish blue (96C
side of lobes	the RHS Colour Chart)	on the RHS Colour Chart)
Time of flowering	Late September	mid-October

Additional distinguishing characteristics of the ‘Ashiro 29-2030’ plant are the five (5.0 on average) lobes of the paracorolla, and the strong purplish-blue color (96D on R.H.S. Colour Chart), with spots, of the secondary lobes with acute apex in-between the main lobes of the corolla.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which are as nearly true as is reasonable possible to make in a color illustration of this type:

FIG. 1 is a color photograph showing the ‘Ashiro 29-2030’ plant as grown in a culturing bed;

FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing flowers of the ‘Ashiro 29-2030’ plant;

FIG. 3 is a color photograph showing flowering stages of flowers of the ‘Ashiro 29-2030’ plant;

FIG. 4 is a color photograph showing petals of flowers of the ‘Ashiro 29-2030’ plant;

FIG. 5 is another color photograph showing flowers of the ‘Ashiro 29-2030’ plant;

FIG. 6 is a map showing the steps of the cross-breeding program from which the variety was obtained.

Due to chemical and/or digital development, processing and printing, the plants or portions of plants depicted in the photographs may or may not be precisely accurate, when compared to the actual botanical specimens.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The plants in the botanical description below and shown in the Figures were grown in Iwate, Japan. The plants were collected in October 2020 at age 16 months.

Colors are given according to The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart.

• Botanical description:

TABLE 2
Stem	Length:	82.7 cm
	Stem shape in cross-section:	circular
	Thickness (main flowering	4.1 mm
	stem):
	Number of flowering stems per	14.9
	plant (average):
	Texture:	smooth
	Color:	strong yellow green
		(145A on RHS Colour
		Chart)
	Anthocyanin coloration at two	present
	thirds from base:
	Number of internodes longer	22.7
	than 5 mm (average):
	Length of internode in	4.0 cm
	central third:
	Side shoots:	present
	Number of side shoots with only	1.5
	one node (average):
	Number of side shoots with	7.5
	more than one node (average):
	Position of longest leaf:	in lower third
Leaf	Length:	7.8 cm
	Leaf arrangement:	opposite leaf
		arrangement
	Leaf attachment:	sessile
	Leaf apex:	acuminate
	Leaf margin:	entire
	Leaf base:	acute
	Leaf texture (inner side):	smooth
	Leaf texture (outer side):	smooth
	Leaf color (inner side):	strong yellow green
		(143A on RHS Colour
		Chart)
	Leaf color (outer side):	moderate yellow green
		(139D on RHS Colour
		Chart)
	Leaf venation pattern:	parallel venation
		(three lines)
	Width:	5.0 cm
	Shape:	narrow lanceolate
	Shape in cross section:	folded upwards
	Shape in longitudinal section:	straight
	Twisting:	absent
	Number of conspicuous veins:	3
	Anthocyanin coloration:	absent
Inflore-	Distribution of flowers:	clustered
scence	Position of flowers:	terminal and axillary
Plant:	Number of terminal flowers	7.5
	(average):
	Typical plant height:	about 82.7 cm (cut
		flower or potted plant)
	Typical growth habit:	erect
	Plant spread (average):	49.7 cm
	Sequence of flowering:	from top downwards
	Number of flowers at central	2.9
	flowering node (average):
	Number of flowering node:	5.7
Flower bud	Shape of bud:	narrow oval
(about 3
days before
flowering)
	Length of bud (average):	46.01 mm
	Diameter of bud (average):	9.79 mm
	Color of bud:	greyish purplish red
		(N77D on RHS Colour
		Chart)
Flower	Type:	double
	Time of flowering:	mid-October
	Flower longevity (potted plant):	13 days
	Flower longevity (cut flower):	7 days
Corolla	Depth:	54.5 mm
	Diameter at middle third:	17.7 mm
	Shape:	campanulate
	Diameter at top:	32.3 mm
	Curvature of lobes:	reflexed
	Color of inner side of lobes:	strong purplish blue
		(96C on RHS Colour
		Chart)
	Tube length (average):	31.4 mm
	Color of upper part of inner	strong purplish blue
	side of tube:	(96C on RHS Colour
		Chart)
	Color of upper part of outer	greyish purplish red
	side of tube:	(N77D on RHS Colour
		Chart)
	Streaked pattern on outer side	present
	of tube:
	Color of streaked pattern on	greyish purplish red
	outer side of tube:	(N77D on RHS Colour
		Chart)
	Density of spots on the inner	sparse
	side of the corolla lobes:
	Density of spots on the upper	sparse
	part of the inner side
	of the corolla tube:
	Density of spots on the outer	absent
	side of the corolla tube:
	Number of lobes:	5
	Length of lobes:	11.0 mm
	Width of lobes:	11.3 mm
	Shape of lobes:	ovate
	Shape of distal end of lobes:	acute
	Presence of secondary lobes:	present
	Average number of secondary	5
	lobes per flower:
	Shape of secondary lobe apex:	acute
	Color of secondary lobes:	strong purplish-blue
		(96D on RHS Colour
		Chart) for both surfaces
	Presence of spots on secondary	present
	lobes:
Paracorolla	Presence of paracorolla:	present
	Number of paracorolla lobes	5.0
	(average):
	Paracolla apex shape:	acute
Calyx	Anthocyanin coloration:	present
	Length of tube:	16.7 mm
	Diameter of tube:	6.6 mm
	Shape of tube:	funnel-shaped
	Shape of lobe:	narrow lanceolate
Sepal	Sepal number:	5
	Sepal lobe shape:	narrow lanceolate
	Sepal apex:	acute
	Sepal color (inner side):	strong yellow green
		(141D on the RHS
		Colour Chart)
	Sepal color (outer side):	moderate yellow green
		(138B on the RHS
		Colour Chart)
Repro-	Stamens and anther:	stamens are mutated
ductive		into petals
organs	Time of flowering:	late October
	Pistil number:	1
	Pistil length (average):	36.0 mm
	Anther shape:	narrow oval
	Anther color:	light yellow green
		(145D on RHS Colour
		Chart)

In the above chart, specific numbers correspond to average values.

• Other features of the plant are as follows:
  • • Disease resistance.—Normal resistance was observed for pests and diseases in Iwate, Japan, using pest control by chemical spraying for gentian.
    • Cold hardiness.—Strong, the variety can withstand winter in Iwate, Japan, including low temperatures of about −10° C. with abundant snow.
    • Heat tolerance.—Normal, the variety can withstand summer in Iwate, Japan, including high temperatures of about 35° C.
    • Flower fragrance.—Absent.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Gentiana plant named ‘Ashiro 29-2030’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.