Common name: Japanese gentian.
Botanical classification: Gentiana L. hybrid.
Variety denomination: ‘Ashiro 29-2073’.
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 29-2073’.
This new gentian has a color of inner side of lobes which is light purple (N80D on The RHS Colour Chart) and a stem length of 83.8 cm on average. 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 ‘25-322-R1’, ‘26-904’, ‘12-320-1’, ‘14-526-2’, ‘11-24-1’, ‘11-192-1’, ‘13SH’, ‘10-76’, ‘6-62’, ‘12-186-1’, ‘12-212-1’, ‘25-817’, ‘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
(((scabrax(scabraxtriflora))xscabra)))x((scabraxtriflora)xscabra)).
With respect to the direct parents ‘28-2012Co-3b’ and ‘27-836-53’, the instant variety ‘Ashiro 29-2073’ has a triploid and double-flowered flower type, whereas ‘28-2012Co-3b’ has tetraploid and double-flowered flower type, and ‘27-836-53’ has diploid and single-flowered flower type.
The multiple-step cross-breeding program was performed over multiple growing seasons up to 2018; in September 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 light purple (N80D on The RHS Colour Chart) and by its stem length of 83.8 cm on average, as compared to ‘Lovely Ashiro’ variety whose color of inner side of lobes is pale purple (N75B on The RHS Colour Chart) and whose stem length is 110.1 cm on average. ‘Lovely Ashiro’ is unpatented.
A comparison with ‘Lovely Ashiro’ variety is presented as follows in Table 1:
TABLE 1
‘Lovely Ashiro’ ‘Ashiro 29-2073’
Color of inner side Pale purple (N75B on light purple (N80D on
of lobes the RHS Colour Chart) the RHS Colour Chart)
Stem length 110.1 cm 83.8 cm
Additional distinguishing characteristics of the ‘Ashiro 29-2073’ plant are the six-seven (6.3 on average) lobes of the paracorolla, and the light purple color (N80C on The RHS Colour Chart), with spots, 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 29-2073’ plant as grown in a culturing bed;
FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing flowers of the ‘Ashiro 29-2073’ plant;
FIG. 3 is a color photograph showing flowering stages of flowers of the ‘Ashiro 29-2073’ plant;
FIG. 4 is a color photograph showing petals of flowers of the ‘Ashiro 29-2073’ plant;
FIG. 5 is another color photograph showing flowers of the ‘Ashiro 29-2073’ 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: 83.8 cm
Thickness (main flowering 3.9 mm
stem):
Number of flowering stems 13.2
per plant (average):
Texture: smooth
Color: strong yellow green (145A
on RHS Colour Chart)
Anthocyanin coloration at present, dark red (187B
two thirds from base: on RHS Colour Chart)
Number of internodes longer 17.9
than 5 mm (average):
Length of internode in 5.3 cm
central third:
Side shoots: present
Number of side shoots with 2.6
only one node (average):
Number of side shoots with 7.4
more than one node
(average):
Length of side shoots 44.5 cm
(average):
Diameter of side shoots 2.4 mm
(average):
Texture of side shoots: smooth
Color of side shoots: light yellow green (145C
on RHS Colour Chart)
Position of longest leaf: in lower third
Leaf Length: 7.3 cm
Leaf arrangement: opposite leaf arrangement
Leaf attachment: sessile
Leaf apex: acuminate
Leaf margin: entire
Leaf base: rounded
Leaf texture (inner side): smooth
Leaf texture (outer side): smooth
Leaf color (inner side): moderate olive green
(137A on RHS Colour
Chart)
Leaf color (outer side): moderate yellow green
(138C on RHS Colour
Chart)
Leaf venation pattern: parallel venation (five
lines)
Leaf venation color: light yellow green (150D
on RHS Colour Chart)
Width: 2.4 cm
Shape: lanceolate
Shape in cross section: folded upwards
Shape in longitudinal section: straight
Twisting: present
Number of conspicuous 5
veins:
Anthocyanin coloration: absent
Inflore- Distribution of flowers: clustered
scence Position of flowers: terminal and axillary
Number of inflorescences per 398.3
plant per season (average):
Plant: Number of terminal flowers 6.9
(average):
Typical plant height: about 83.8 cm
Typical growth habit: erect
Plant height (average): 83.8 cm
Plant spread (average): 74.8 cm
Plant shape: erect
Number of flowers per top: 6.9
inflorescence: others: 2.7
Number of flowers at central 2.7
flowering node (average):
Number of flowering node: 8.8
Flower bud Shape of bud: oval
(about 3
days before
flowering)
Length of bud (average): 48.02 mm
Diameter of bud (average): 12.30 mm
Color of bud: greyish purplish red
(N77B on RHS Colour
Chart)
Flower Type: double
Time of flowering: mid-October
Flower longevity (potted 12 days
plant):
Flower longevity (cut 8 days
flower):
Corolla Depth: 46.0 mm
Diameter at middle third: 16.6 mm
Shape: campanulate
Diameter at top: 32.5 mm
Curvature of lobes: reflexed
Margin of lobes: entire
Texture of lobes: smooth
Color of outer side of lobes: light purple (N80D on
RHS Colour Chart)
Color of inner side of lobes: light purple (N80D on
RHS Colour Chart)
Tube length (average): 29.5 mm
Tube texture: smooth
Color of inner side of tube: light purple (76A on RHS
Colour Chart)
Color of upper part of inner light purple (N81D on
side of tube: RHS Colour Chart)
Color of outer side of tube: greyish purplish red
(N77B on RHS Colour
Chart)
Color of upper part of outer greyish purplish red
side of tube: (N77B on RHS Colour
Chart)
Streaked pattern on outer present
side of tube:
Color of streaked pattern on purplish-brown
outer side of tube:
Number of lobes: at least 6
Length of lobes: 10.0 mm
Width of lobes: 11.6 mm
Shape of lobes: broad triangular
Shape of distal end of lobes: acute
Presence of secondary lobes: present
Shape of secondary lobes: acute
Shape of secondary lobe acute
apex:
Margin of secondary lobes: entire
Length of secondary lobes 4.9 mm
(average):
Width of secondary lobes 2.9 mm
(average):
Texture of secondary lobes: smooth
Color of secondary lobes: light purple (N80C on
RHS Colour Chart) for
both surfaces
Presence of spots on present
secondary lobes:
Color of spots on secondary strong yellow green (143B
lobes: on RHS Colour Chart)
Paracorolla Presence of paracorolla: present
Number of paracorolla lobes 6.3
(average):
Calyx Anthocyanin coloration: present
Length of tube: 15.6 mm
Diameter of tube: 7.5 mm
Shape of tube: funnel-shaped
Texture of tube (inner side): smooth
Texture of tube (outer side): slightly wrinkled
Shape of lobe: narrow lanceolate
Sepal Sepal number: 6
Sepal lobe shape: narrow lanceolate
Sepal length (average): 20.9 mm
Sepal width (average): 4.6 mm
Sepal apex: acute
Sepal margin: entire
Sepal texture (inner side): smooth
Sepal texture (outer side): smooth
Sepal color (inner side): moderate yellowish green
(139B on the RHS Colour
Chart)
Sepal color (outer side): strong yellow green
(143C on the RHS Colour
Chart)
Repro- Stamens and anther: stamens are mutated into
ductive petals and there is no
organs anther
Pistil number: 1
Pistil length (average): 35.0 mm
Stigma (none)
Style (none)
Ovary color: light yellow green (145C
on RHS Colour Chart)
Roots Root shape: fine and fibrous
Pedicel No pedicel
Peduncle Peduncle length (average): 2.90 mm
Peduncle diameter (average): 3.30 mm
Peduncle texture: smooth
Peduncle color: light yellow green (145C
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.
