Patent Application
20250241217
Genus and species: Caladium x hortulanum.
Cultivar denomination: ‘UF-15-23’.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium, botanically known as Caladium x hortulanum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘UF-15-23’. Caladium plants are tuberous-rooted plants and typically have attractive heart-shaped or arrow-shaped leaves on long stalks rising directly from the tubers. Foliage may grow in a variety of colors and variegation patterns, and many species have been developed for aesthetic coloration, good container and landscape growth, drought tolerance, pest resistance, and other desirable characteristics.
Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar have not been applied for.
The new Caladium cultivar ‘UF-15-23’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, light intensity, fertilization, irrigation, and application of plant growth regulators without any change in genotype.
The objective of the breeding program that produced the present cultivar was to develop cultivars that have novel foliar characteristics, produce multiple brightly colored leaves, have good tuber yield potential, and perform well in containers and the landscape. The present Caladium cultivar originated from a cross-pollination made in July 2012 in Wimauma, Florida between the Caladium x hortulanum breeding line ‘UF 317’ (unpatented), as the female or seed parent, and the Caladium x hortulanum cultivar ‘Gingerland’ (unpatented), as the male or pollen parent. The new Caladium cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor in September 2015 as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in Wimauma, Florida.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘UF-15-23’ by tuber divisions in a controlled environment has been performed annually in Wimauma, Florida since April 2016. The unique features of this new Caladium cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.
The new cultivar ‘UF-15-23’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment 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 ‘UF-15-23’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘UF-15-23’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium:
Plants of the new Caladium cultivar ‘UF-15-23’ differ from plants of the female parent ‘UF 317’, in the following characteristics:
Plants of the new Caladium cultivar ‘UF-15-23’ differ from plants of the male parent and commercial Caladium cultivar, ‘Gingerland’, in the following characteristics:
Plants of the new Caladium cultivar ‘UF-15-23’ differ from plants of the commercial Caladium cultivar ‘Cosmic Delight’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,154) in the following characteristics:
The accompanying photographs (as shown in
In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
The aforementioned photographs and the following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 8-inch containers in Wimauma, Florida during the summer in a polypropylene-covered shade house and also describe plants grown in an outdoor nursery in ground beds in Wimauma, Florida during the late summer. All plants were grown under conditions and practices that approximate those generally used in commercial Caladium production.
During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 26° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 18° C. to 26° C. and light levels ranged from 2400 to 3840 foot-candles in the greenhouse to 8300 foot-candles for plants grown in the outdoor nursery. Plants grown in the greenhouse were about 6 weeks old from tubers when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. Plants grown in the outdoor nursery were about 3 months old from tubers when the photographs and the detailed description were taken.
The new Caladium ‘UF-15-23’ was also evaluated for tuber production and plant performance at Wimauma, Florida in 2018, 2019 and/or 2020 and compared to plants of the commercial Caladium cultivar ‘Gingerland’. The soil was an EauGallie fine sand with approximately 1% organic matter and a pH of 6.2. Caladium plants were grown in the open field using a plastic mulched, raised bed system. Field plots were organized in a randomized complete block design consisting of three replications. Each plot was 1.2 m2 and contained 30 Caladium propagules.
In 2019, field beds were fumigated on February 24 with Pic-Clor 60 at 448 kg·ha−1. Caladium seed pieces were planted on April 4. Fifty pounds of granular nitrogen (50 N) per acre was incorporated into the soil prior to bedding. Fertigation began on June 1 by injecting a commercial liquid fertilizer (5N-0.87P-6.64K) at 0.454 kg of nitrogen an acre a day. The fertilization rate was increased to 0.908 kg of nitrogen an acre a day on beginning on July 24 and ended on October 31. Tubers were dug and washed on December 9 and dried in the greenhouse for approximately 45 days. Tubers were graded by the maximum diameter: Mammoth (8.9 to 11.4 cm), Jumbo (6.4 to 8.9 cm), No.1 (3.8 to 6.4 cm), and No. 2 (2.5 to 3.8 cm). Tuber grades and counts were converted into a production index to show the relative economic value of the harvested tubers per field plot: Production index=6n (Mammoth)+4n (Jumbo)+2n (No.1)+1n (No.2), where n=number of tubers in the grade. The relative values assigned to the five tuber grades in calculating production index were based on the relative market prices provided by Florida Caladium tuber producers.
In the 2020 season, ground beds were fumigated on February 12 with Pic-Clor 60 at 448 kg·ha−1. Caladium seed tubers were treated in hot water (50° C.) for 30 minutes. Seed tuber pieces were dusted with RootShield® Plus WP and planted manually on April 15 with the same in-row and between-row spacing as in 2019. Two drip tapes were buried under the plastic mulch along the raised beds to provide the irrigation water and fertilization. Fertigation began on May 28 by injecting a commercial liquid fertilizer (5N-0.87P-6.64K) at the rate of 0.454 kg of nitrogen an acre a day and ended on October 30. Tubers were dug and washed on December 1-2,dried in the greenhouse for approximately 63 days, and weighed, graded, and counted on Feb. 3, 2021.
The tuber weight, marketable tubers, and production index of ‘UF-15-23’ were not significantly different from ‘Gingerland’ in 2019 (Table 1), but the tuber weight, marketable tubers, and production index of ‘UF-15-23’ were 112%, 279%, or 150% greater than those of ‘Gingerland’ in 2020, respectively (Table 1). ‘UF-15-23’ may have higher tuber yield potential than ‘Gingerland’. The primary grade of tubers produced by ‘UF-15-23’ was No. 2 (48.7% in 2019 and 74.5% in 2020), followed by No. 1 (45.8% in 2019 and 22.9% in 2020). ‘UF-15-23’ produced more No. 1 tubers than Gingerland in 2019 (Table 1).
As shown in Table 1, tuber weight, marketable number, production index, and grade distribution of ‘UF-15-23’ are compared to the commercial Caladium cultivar ‘Gingerland’ in replicated experimental field plots in 2019 and 2020 in Wimauma, Florida. Values presented are means of three plots with 30 propagules planted in a plot of 1.2 m2.
Plants of the new Caladium ‘UF-15-23’ were evaluated for growth, leaf color display, sunburn tolerance, and leaf health in the same field plots that were used for evaluating tuber production potential. A scale of 1 to 5 was used for rating plant growth, with 1 being very poor (few leaves and lack of vigor) and 5 being excellent (full plants, numerous leaves). A scale of 1 to 5 was used for rating leaf color display, with 1 being very poor (dull or bleached, lack of color display) and 5 being excellent (bright, very attractive). Sunburn tolerance was evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being very susceptible to sunburn (leaves having numerous sun-damaged areas or holes) and 5 being resistant to sunburn (no visible sun-damaged areas). Leaf health was evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being numerous diseased spots and completely unsightly and 5 being healthy and free of visible leaf spot disease. Evaluations of plant growth, leaf color, sunburn tolerance and leaf health were done on July 13, August 13, September 19 of 2019; and July 31, August 21, and September 25 of 2020.
Plants of the new Caladium ‘UF-15-23’ received a score of 1.3 to 4.0 for their growth in seven evaluations in 2019 and 2020 (Table 2). These scores were relatively low but were significantly higher than those of its male or pollen parent ‘Gingerland’ (1.2 to 2.5) in one of the three evaluations in 2019 and two of the four evaluations in 2020, indicating improved plant growth than ‘Gingerland’.
Leaf color scores of the new Caladium ‘UF-15-23’ were between 2.8 and 4.2, higher than the leaf color scores of ‘Gingerland’ in two out of the seven evaluations (Table 2). Plants of ‘UF-15-23’ showed good to excellent sunburn tolerance in both 2019 and 2020 growing seasons, with sunburn tolerance ratings between 3.7 and 4.8 (Table 2). Its sunburn tolerance ratings were not significantly different from those of ‘Gingerland’ (3.8 to 4.8) in all seven evaluations. The leaf health score of ‘UF-15-23’ ranged from 2.3 to 4.8 in 2019 and from 3.5 to 4.5 in 2020. ‘UF-15-23’ received a higher leaf health score than ‘Gingerland’ in one evaluation.
As shown in Table 2, plant growth, leaf color, sunburn tolerance, and leaf health ratings of the new Caladium ‘UF-15-23’ are compared to the commercial Caladium cultivar ‘Gingerland’ (check) grown from 2.5-cm tuber propagules in ground beds in full sun in Wimauma, FL. Plant growth, leaf color, sunburn tolerance, and leaf health rating values are means of three plots based on whole plot evaluation in each evaluation.
The new Caladium ‘UF-15-23’ was evaluated and compared to its male or pollen parent ‘Gingerland’ for suitability for container plant production. The evaluation was conducted in 2020by forcing dried tubers in 12.7-cm containers (diameter). No.1-sized tubers (intact or de-eyed) were planted on May 1, 2020 in a commercial potting mix amended with Osmocote® fertilizer (15N-3.9P-10K, 5-6 months) at 4.3 kg m−3 and Micromax® at 0.48 kg·m−3. Potted tubers and plants were grown in a greenhouse with approximately 30% light exclusion. Temperatures in the greenhouse ranged from 25° C. (night) to 33° C. (day). Potted tubers and plants were arranged on metal benches, with a pot-to-pot spacing of 0.4 meters, in the greenhouse in a randomized complete block design with six replicates. Fungicide Subdue® Maxx and insecticide Neemix® were applied as a drench to all potted plants. Plant height, plant width, number of leaves, and foliar characteristics were recorded approximately 8 weeks after planting. Quality of the potted Caladium plants was rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1=very poor, unattractive, totally unacceptable as potted plants with few leaves, and 5=very attractive, full plants with a symmetrical shape, an appropriate height, and many bright, colorful leaves.
Intact tubers of the new Caladium ‘UF-15-23’ sprouted about 32 days after planting, approximately 17 days later than ‘Gingerland’ (Table 3). Plants forced from intact tubers had an average height of 21.7 cm, an average width of 38.8 cm, an average of 13.2 leaves, and the leaves were averaged to be 19.8 cm long and 12.8 cm wide. Thus, plants of ‘UF-15-23’ forced from intact tubers and grown for 8 weeks were 18 cm shorter, 6.5 cm narrower, and leaves were 7.3 cm shorter, and 5.4 cm narrower than ‘Gingerland’.
De-eyed tubers of ‘UF-15-23’ sprouted about 33 days after planting, approximately 8 days later than ‘Gingerland’. Plants of ‘UF-15-23’ forced from de-eyed tubers were 21.8 cm tall and 39.7 cm wide and had about 15 leaves per plant, and leaves were 16.0 cm long and 10.0 cm wide. Compared to ‘Gingerland’ plants from de-eyed tubers, ‘UF-15-23’ plants from de-eyed tubers were 4.9 cm shorter and had fewer leaves (15.2 vs. 28.8). Plants of ‘UF-15-23’ from intact and de-eyed tubers received a quality rating of 3.1 or 3.2, indicating that these plants met the required quality for potted Caladium plants. These results indicate that ‘UF-15-23’ is slower to sprout than ‘Gingerland’ but it does not need additional time for production of prefinished or finished container plants. In addition to producing more compact plants in containers, ‘UF-15-23’ had fewer blooms (0 to 0.2 vs. 1.2 to 1.7 per plant) than ‘Gingerland’.
As shown in Table 3, days to sprout, plant height and width, leaf number, length and width, number of blooms (inflorescences), and plant quality ratings of the new Caladium ‘UF-15-23’ are compared to the commercial Caladium cultivar ‘Gingerland’ grown in small containers. No. 1 tubers were planted in 12.7-cm containers (one tuber per container) and grown in a shaded glasshouse in Wimauma, FL in 2020. Values represent the means of six plants (replicates) produced from intact or de-eyed No. 1 (3.8 to 6.4 cm in diameter) tubers planted individually per container.
This Application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/623,981 filed on Jan. 23, 2024, entitled CALADIUM CULTIVARS, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63623981 | Jan 2024 | US |
