Chrysanthemum plant named Orange Davis

Abstract

A Chrysanthemum plant named Orange Davis particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; orange-bronze ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 64 to 70 mm when fully opened, when grown as a pinched spray pot mum; photoperiodic flowering response to short days of 55 to 60 days; plant height, with 15 to 16 long days after sticking unrooted cuttings, and with 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, ranges from 20 to 25 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot; branching pattern is spreading, each plant having 4 to 6 laterals after pinch; and recommended as a spray pot mum.

Description

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranhema grandiflora, and referred to by the cultivar name Orange Davis.

Orange Davis, identified as 4176 (84-382D03), is a product of a mutation induction program. Orange Davis was discovered and selected by Cornelis P. VandenBerg on Jun. 1, 1990 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. in comparative flower trials of selections of radiation sports originating from irradiation of the cultivar identified as Davis, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,325 and described as a spray pot mum having a flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; red purple ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 64 to 70 mm when fully opened; flowering response period of 51 to 63 days after start of short days; plant height of 18 to 28 cm with 2 to 3 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP when grown as a pinched pot mum in a 15 cm pot; and a spreading and prolific branching pattern, with 4 to 6 laterals after pinch.

One selection in these comparative flower trials was identified by the code number 4088, which was selected in October 1989 as one flowering plant within a flowering block established as rooted cuttings from stock plants of Davis which had been exposed as unrooted cuttings to an X-ray source of 1750 rads in Fort Myers, Fla., on Apr. 13, 1989. Repeated flowerings of code 4088 showed a mixture of plants with different ray floret color. One plant with an orange-bronze ray floret color was selected on Jun. 1, 1990 and given the code number 4176 (84-382D03), and subsequently the culivar name Orange Davis.

The irradiation program resulting in code 4088 and ultimately in Orange Davis had as its primary objective the expansion of color ranges of the parent cultivar Davis. The irradiation program comprised irradiating cuttings of the parent cultivar at irradiation levels of 1500, 1750 and 2000 rads. A total of 1466 cuttings harvested from a total of 225 irradiated plants were planted on Jul. 31, Jul. 24 and Jul. 10, 1989. Of these, 27 initial selections were made, which selections were then revegetated and reflowered. Four consecutive flowerings resulted in discarding 21 of the original 27 selections on Jul. 9, 1990. Three selections were retained and three selections were reselected as possible introductions. Reselections were made because of the fact that the flowering plants consisted of more than one color, as described for 4088. Of these 6 selections, 4 will be commercially introduced as Orange Davis, Coral Davis, Light Davis and Regal Davis, the last three of which are disclosed in pending plant patent applications of applicant.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Orange Davis was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in December 1989 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by technicians working under the supervision of Cornelis P. VandenBerg. Orange Davis was reselected from the original selection on Jun. 1, 1990. The first act of asexual reproduction of the reselection was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from this reselection in August 1990 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by technicians working under the supervision of the inventor.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successive plantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Orange Davis are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Orange Davis has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Orange Davis, which, in combination, distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distitnct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Daisy capitulum type.

3. Orane-bronze ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 64 to 70 mm when fully opened, when grown as a pinched spray pot mum.

5. Phooperiodic flowering response to short days of 55 to 60 days.

6. Plant height, with 15 to 16 long days after sticking unrooted cuttings, and with 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, ranges from 20 to 25 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot.

7. Branching pattern is spreading, each plant having 4 to 6 laterals after pinch.

8. Recommended as a spray pot mum.

The accompanying color photographic drawing is a top perspective view of potted plants of Orange Davis, with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot, with the colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to Orange Davis is the parent cultivar Davis. Most traits of Orange Davis are similar to those of Davis, except for the ray floret color. Davis has a red-purple ray floret color, while Orange Davis has an orange-bronze ray floret color. In addition, flowering response time to short days of Orange Davis has been observed to be two to four days flower than Davis in several flowering trials. When comparing the description of Orange Davis with Davis, it is evident that Davis has a wider range of flowering response and plant height than Orange Davis. The reason for this is that the description of Davis is based on evaluation over a 2 year time period, while the description of Orange Davis is based on 4 flowerings in a 3 month period.

In the following description color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart. The actual color of Orange Davis is not represented in The RHS Colour Chart, and the values given are those believed closest to the actual color of Orange Davis. The color values were determined on plant material grown as a pinched spray pot mum in Salinas, Calif. on Apr. 1, 1991.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Orange Davis.

Commercial.--Flat daisy spray pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--64 to 70 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Orange-bronze.

Color (upper surface).--34B, tinged with 178C to 179A.

Color (under surface).--168B to 168C.

Shape.--Straight, oblong, slightly ribbed.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--9A.

Color (immature).--144B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; no pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--20 to 25 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 15 to 16 long days prior to start of short days, with 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP.

Branching pattern.--Spreading and prolific, with 4 to 6 laterals after pinch.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed and serrated.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Orange Davis, as described and illustrated.