Plants – Rose – Climber
Plant Patent
2000-02-07
2001-06-12
Campell, Bruce R. (Department: 1661)
Plants
Rose
Climber
Plant Patent
active
PP011923
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultiva of Azalea, botanically known as
Rhododendron hybrida
, an evergreen greenhouse-forcing type Azalea, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Spring Prom’.
The new Azalea is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Azalea varieties having uniform plant habit and uniform flowering, numerous flowers, dark green foliage, good foliage retention during the cooling and forcing periods, resistance to Cylindrocladium, and excellent postproduction longevity.
The new Azalea originated from a cross made by the Inventor in Alva, Fla., of the commercial cultivar ‘Prize’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,795, as the male, or pollen, parent with the proprietary selection identified as code number YB-0160 as the female, or seed, parent.
Compared to plants of the male parent, the cultivar ‘Prize’, plants of the new Azalea have longer and narrower leaves; slightly smaller and brighter pink-colored flowers; differ in flower form; and are more resistant to Cylindrocladium in inoculation trials. Plants of the new Azalea differ from plants of the female parent, the proprietary selection identified as code number YB-0160, primarily in flower form and color.
The new Azalea was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla., in June, 1993. The selection of this plant was based on its desirable flower color, profuse and uniform flowering, improved flower color retention, uniform plant habit, excellent postproduction longevity, and resistance to Cylindrocladium.
Asexual reproduction of the new Azalea by terminal cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla., has shown that the unique features of this new Azalea are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The new Azalea has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, light intensity, nutrition and water status without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Spring Prom’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Spring Prom’ as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Dark green leaves that do not abscise during the cooling and forcing periods.
2. Dense, uniform, mounded and outwardly spreading plant habit.
3. Freely branching growth habit.
4. Rapid flowering after forcing.
5. Numerous dark hot pink-colored flowers with ruffled margins.
6. Hose-in-hose flower form.
7. Flowers that do not shatter.
8. Excellent postproduction longevity with plants maintaining good flower substance for about four weeks in an interior environment.
9. Very low incidence of infection with Cylindrocladium in inoculated trials.
Plants of the new Azalea can be compared to plants of the commercial cultivar ‘YB 871 Remembrance’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,132. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Azalea differ from plants of the cultivar ‘YB 871 Remembrance’ in the following characteristics:
1. Plants of the new Azalea are more vigorous and more upright than plants of the cultivar ‘YB 871 Remembrance’.
2. Flower form of plants of the new Azalea is hose-in-hose, whereas flower form of plants of the cultivar ‘YB 871 Remembrance’ is single or semi-double.
3. Plants of the new Azalea last about 5 or 6 days longer in postproduction longevity trials than plants of the cultivar ‘YB 871 Remembrance’.
REFERENCES:
patent: P.P. 6607 (1989-02-01), Motzkau
Bell Kent L.
Campell Bruce R.
Whealy C. A.
Yoder Brother's Inc.
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