plant named ‘Dodaxsu’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named ‘Dodaxsu’, characterized by its upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; moderate to rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large double-type inflorescences with reddish orange and bright yellow bi-colored ray florets; good postproduction longevity; and good garden performance.

Description

Botanical designation: Dahlia variabilis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DODAXSU’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR AND APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Dümmen Group B.V. of De Lier, The Netherlands on Nov. 15, 2023, application number 2023/2282. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no sales, offers for sale or public distribution of the instant plant occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosures and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant, botanically known as Dahlia variabilis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dodaxsu’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new container Dahlia plants that have a freely branching and flowering habit, strong leaves, large attractive inflorescences and good postproduction longevity and garden performance.

The new Dahlia plant originated from a cross-pollination during the autumn of 2018 in De Lier, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilis identified as code number DA-1192, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilis identified as code number DA-0748, not patented, as the male, or pollen, patent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands during the summer of 2019.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since the autumn of 2019 has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia 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 ‘Dodaxsu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dodaxsu’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

• • 1. Upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.
  • 2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid growth rate.
  • 3. Freely branching habit.
  • 4. Dark green-colored leaves.
  • 5. Freely flowering habit.
  • 6. Large double-type inflorescences with reddish orange and bright yellow bi-colored ray florets.
  • 7. Good postproduction longevity.
  • 8. Good garden performance.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily in ray floret color as plants of the new Dahlia have reddish orange and bright yellow bi-colored ray florets whereas plants of the female parent selection have light orange-colored ray florets that fade to yellow with subsequent development. In addition, plants of the new Dahlia have better garden performance than plants of the female parent selection.

Compared to plants of the male parent selection, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Dahlia have larger inflorescences of plants of the male parent selection.
  • 2. Ray florets of plants of the new Dahlia are reddish orange and bright yellow bi-colored whereas ray florets of plants of the male parent selection are pink and white bi-colored.
  • 3. Plants of the new Dahlia have stronger garden performance than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia variabilis ‘MegaBoom Berry Blast’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of ‘MegaBoom Berry Blast’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Dahlia are larger and stronger than plants of ‘MegaBoom Berry Blast’.
  • 2. Plants of the new Dahlia are more freely branching than plants of ‘MegaBoom Berry Blast’.
  • 3. Plants of the new Dahlia have longer and slightly darker green-colored leaves than plants of ‘MegaBoom Berry Blast’.
  • 4. Plants of the new Dahlia are more freely flowering than plants of ‘MegaBoom Berry Blast’.
  • 5. Inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia are double-types whereas inflorescences of plants of ‘MegaBoom Berry Blast’ may be either double or single-types.
  • 6. Inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia are larger than and have longer ray florets than inflorescences of plants of ‘MegaBoom Berry Blast’.
  • 7. Ray florets of plants of the new Dahlia are reddish orange and bright yellow bi-colored whereas ray florets of plants of ‘MegaBoom Berry Blast’ are reddish purple and white bi-colored.
  • 8. Plants of the new Dahlia have stronger garden performance than plants of ‘MegaBoom Berry Blast’.
  • 9. Ray florets of plants of the new Dahlia resist fading under high light conditions whereas ray florets of plants of ‘MegaBoom Berry Blast’ fade under high light conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

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

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dodaxsu’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and the following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 17-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under environmental conditions and cultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercial potted Dahlia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 22° C. and light levels were at least 135 watt/m². Plants were pinched one time about four weeks after sticking unrooted cuttings. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis ‘Dodaxsu’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilis identified as code number DA-1192, not patented.
    • Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilis identified as code number DA-0748, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 days at temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.
    • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 days at temperatures about 20°° C. to 22° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 21 days at temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 24 days at temperatures about 20° C. to 22° C.
    • Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically whitish grey in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots; tuber development has not been observed on plants of the new Dahlia.
    • Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant and growth habit.—Upright and uniformly mounding plant form; overall shape, globose; freely basal branching habit with about six primary lateral branches per plant, each primary lateral branch with about four to six secondary lateral branches; pinching is not required, however, pinching will enhance lateral branch development; inflorescences held above the foliar plane on moderately strong peduncles; bushy and dense habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid growth rate.
    • Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 33 cm.
    • Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 50 cm.
    • Plant diameter or spread.—About 33 cm.
    • Lateral branches.—Length: About 25 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Internode length: About 3 cm to 6 cm. Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, developing: Close to 143A to 143B and 146A. Color, developed: Close to 143A and 148A.
• Leaf description:
  • • Arrangement.—Opposite; leaves may be single or compound with typically three to five leaflets.
    • Leaf length.—About 24 cm.
    • Leaf width.—About 20 cm.
    • Leaflet length.—About 10 cm to 14 cm.
    • Leaflet width.—About 5 cm to 5.5 cm.
    • Leaf and leaflet shape.—Ovate.
    • Leaf and leaflet apex.—Acute.
    • Leaf and leaflet base.—Attenuate.
    • Leaf and leaflet margin.—Dentate; leaflets occasionally lobed with indentations that are medium in depth and divergent.
    • Leaf and leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.
    • Leaf and leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.
    • Leaf and leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; matte.
    • Color.—Developing leaves and leaflets, upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing leaves and leaflets, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves and leaflets, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 137D. Fully expanded leaves and leaflets, lower surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 138A.
    • Petioles.—Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 7 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 166A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144A.
• Inflorescence description:
  • • Appearance and arrangement.—Double-type inflorescence form with ray florets forming acropetally on a receptacle; inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane on moderately strong peduncles; inflorescences face mostly upright; freely flowering habit with about 14 developing and fully developed inflorescences per plant at one time.
    • Fragrance.—None detected.
    • Time to flower.—Early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about ten to twelve weeks after planting; in the garden in The Netherlands, plants flower continuously from spring until late summer.
    • Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good substance for about two to three weeks on the plant; inflorescences persistent.
    • Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Globular. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 144B.
    • Inflorescence size.—Diameter: Large, about 13 cm. Depth (height): About 1.8 cm to 1.9 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.5 cm to 1.8 cm; inconspicuous. Receptacle height: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 1.5 cm. Receptacle color: Close to 144A.
    • Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 100 to 120 arranged in about eleven whorls. Length: About 6 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Retuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; moderately undulate. Aspect: Initially upright to outwardly with development. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Distally, close to 33B, and proximally, close to 5A. When opening, lower surface: Distally, close to 39A, and proximally, close to 5A. Fully opened, upper surface: Distally, close to 32B, and proximally, close to 5A; venation, close to lamina colors; colors do not change with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Distally, close to 33C, and proximally, close to 5A; venation, close to lamina colors; colors do not change with subsequent development.
    • Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 40 to 60; disc florets are inconspicuous. Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated; apices retuse. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 144A. Color, fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 17B.
    • Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About eight to nine arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 2.4 cm. Width: About 5 mm to 8 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 137A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137B.
    • Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 11 cm. Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 4 mm. Aspect: Mostly erect to slightly outwardly. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 148A.
    • Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Stamen quantity per floret: Five to six. Filament length: About 8 mm. Filament color: Close to 23A. Anther length: About 2.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 17A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 17A. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets only. Pistil quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: Close to 144D. Stigma diameter: Less than 1 mm. Stigma shape: Bifurcate. Stigma color: Close to 17B. Ovary color: Close to 145C. Seeds: To date, seed development has not been observed on plants of the new Dahlia.
• Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia plants.
• Temperature tolerance & garden performance: Plants of the new Dahlia tolerate high temperatures about 35° C. and low temperatures about 10° C. Plants of the new Dahlia have been observed to have good garden performance and to resist fading of the ray floret color under high light conditions.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘Dodaxsu’ as illustrated and described herein.