plant named ‘WNPETMVUM24’

Abstract

A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘WNPETMVUM24’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing and decumbent plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form; early and freely flowering habit; single-type flowers that are dark purple in color with darker purple-colored throats; and excellent container and garden performance.

Description

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WNPETMVUM24’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘WNPETMVUM24’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, California. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous, freely-branching and uniformly mounding Petunia plants with early and freely flowering habit, attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Oct. 20, 2018 in Bonsall, California of a proprietary selection of Petunia X hybrida identified as code number PC1010-03, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia X hybrida identified as code number PU17080-02, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, California on May 18, 2019.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, California since May 22, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘WNPETMVUM24’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘WNPETMVUM24’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

• • 1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing and decumbent plant habit.
  • 2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.
  • 3 Freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form.
  • 4. Early and freely flowering habit.
  • 5. Single-type flowers that are dark purple in color with darker purple-colored throats.
  • 6. Excellent container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Petunia are denser and more mounding than and not as open and loose as plants of the female parent selection.
  • 2. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are dark purple in color with darker purple-colored throats whereas flowers of plants of the female parent selection are purple magenta in color.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of the male parent selection.
  • 2. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are not as rounded as flowers of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of Petunia X hybrida ‘BBTUN10102’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,688. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘BBTUN10102’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Petunia are more trailing than and not as spreading as plants of ‘BBTUN10102’.
  • 2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of ‘BBTUN10102’.
  • 3. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are dark purple in color with darker purple-colored throats whereas flowers of plants of ‘BBTUN10102’ are solid dark purple in color.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of Petunia X hybrida ‘USTUN2401M’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,664. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘USTUN2401M’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Petunia are more trailing than and not as upright as plants of ‘USTUN2401M’.
  • 2. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are dark purple in color with darker purple-colored throats whereas flowers of plants of ‘USTUN2401M’ are solid hot pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘WNPETMVUM24’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘WNPETMVUM24’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late spring in 813 ml containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Loudon, New Hampshire and under cultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 20 C. Plants were seven weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘WNPETMVUM24’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X hybrida identified as code number PC1010-03, not patented.
    • Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X hybrida identified as code number PU17080-02, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three to four days at ambient temperatures about 28 C.
    • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five to seven days at ambient temperatures about 20 C.
    • Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three or four weeks at ambient temperatures about 28 C.
    • Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About four to five weeks at ambient temperatures about 20 C.
    • Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit with about four to six primary lateral branches with secondary laterals developing potentially at every node, dense and bushy plant form; pinching enhances development of lateral branches; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.
    • Plant height.—About 13 cm.
    • Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 25 cm.
    • Lateral branches.—Length: About 11 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Internode length: About 1.1 cm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible, not brittle. Aspect: Initially upright then outwardly spreading to trailing and decumbent. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; pubescence, fine; slightly glossy. Color, developing and developed: Close to 144A.
• Leaf description:
  • • Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after flowers develop; leaves simple.
    • Length.—About 3.75 cm.
    • Width.—About 2.5 cm.
    • Shape.—Broadly elliptic.
    • Apex.—Rounded acute.
    • Base.—Cuneate.
    • Margin.—Entire, not undulate.
    • Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Moderately pubescent, pubescence, minute; slightly glossy.
    • Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.
    • Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to between 138A and 144A. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: More green than 146A; venation, close to 144A. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to 144A to 144B.
    • Petioles.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong, flexible. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower type and flowering habit.—Single terminal and axillary salverform flowers; flowers face mostly upward to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 87 developing flowers and open flowers per plant.
    • Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long flowering period, plants flower from early spring until frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about four weeks after planting rooted young plants.
    • Flower longevity on the plant.—Depending on temperature, about one to two weeks; petals not persistent, and sepals, persistent.
    • Fragrance.—None detected.
    • Flower buds, before showing petal color.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color, developing sepals: Close to 144A.
    • Flower diameter.—About 3.25 cm to 3.5 cm.
    • Flower depth (height).—About 3 cm.
    • Throat diameter.—About 7.5 mm.
    • Tube length.—About 2 cm.
    • Tube diameter, distally.—About 8 mm.
    • Tube diameter, proximally.—About 2 mm.
    • Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat): About 1.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.4 cm. Petal lobe shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal lobe apex: Broadly acute and cuspidate. Petal lobe margin: Entire; moderately undulate. Petal lobe texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Petal lobe texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Tube texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 83A; venation, close to N92A; color does not change with subsequent development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 83B to 83C; venation, close to between 146A and 137A; color does not change with subsequent development. Flower throat (inside): Close to N92A; venation, close to N92A. Flower tube (outside): Close to 83B to 83C; venation, close to 83B to 83C.
    • Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a single star-shaped whorl; sepals flaring outwardly. Calyx length: About 1.6 cm. Calyx diameter: About 2.3 cm. Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Narrowly lanceolate to linear. Apex: Rounded acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent; pubescence, fine; slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: More green than 144A.
    • Peduncles.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; wiry and flexible, not brittle. Angle: About 45 degrees from the stein axis. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 144A.
    • Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About five. Filament length: About 1.1 cm to 1.3 cm. Filament color: Close to 76A. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Bi-lobed. Anther color: Close to 94A. Pollen amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.2 cm. Style length: About 1.1 cm. Style color: Close to 144C to 144D. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 148A. Ovary color: Close to between 144A and 146A.
    • Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development has not been observed on plants of the new Petunia.
• Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Petunia have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia plants.
• Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to have excellent garden performance and have been observed to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1 C to about 35 C.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘WNPETMVUM24’ as illustrated and described.