Patent Application
20140059710
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of ornamental Calibrachoa plants, and provides new, distinct, and stable cultivars of Calibrachoa plants having unique inflorescence with a star pattern. Such Calibrachoa plant has not been observed in any wild species of Calibrachoa, but was discovered through Applicants' breeding process.
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of ornamental Calibrachoa plants. The genus Calibrachoa belongs to the Solanaceae (nightshade) family, closely related to Petunias. Many published plant taxonomies do not recognize Calibrachoa as a separate genus, and instead place it under the genus Petunia. Calibrachoa species can generally be found in South America, in southern Brazil, Peru, and Chile, in much the same regions as Petunias are found. Depending on frost conditions, Calibrachoa are considered perennials in areas that experience light frost, and annuals in other areas. While Calibrachoa produce seed, the resultant progeny generally display a range of characteristics, and so the plants are vegetatively propagated to ensure reproductions that are true-to-type of the originally selected plant.
In one aspect there is provided a Calibrachoa plant comprising at least one inflorescence with a star-shaped pattern along the center of the fused petal margins, wherein said pattern extends from the center of the inflorescence and does not fade during the life of the inflorescence. In one embodiment, the star-shaped pattern is white. In another embodiment, the star-shaped pattern extends from the center of the inflorescence to the edge of the petals. In another embodiment, the petal color is yellow.
In another aspect, there is provided a method for producing a Calibrachoa plant comprising at least one inflorescence with a star-shaped pattern along the center of the fused petal margins, comprising (a) crossing, as the male or female parent, a first Calibrachoa plant comprising at least one inflorescence with said star-shaped pattern, with a second Calibrachoa plant that does not comprise an inflorescence with said star-shaped pattern, and (b) selecting progeny that have said star-shaped pattern
wherein said star-shaped pattern extends from the center of the inflorescence towards the edge of the petals and does not fade during the life of the inflorescence.
In one embodiment, the star-shaped pattern extends from the center of the inflorescence to the edge of the petals. In another embodiment, provided is a Calibrachoa plant produced by said method, wherein tissue from said plant can be asexually propagated to produce a Calibrachoa plant comprising inflorescence with said star-shaped pattern.
In another aspect, provided is a method for asexually reproducing a Calibrachoa plant having at least one inflorescence with a star-shaped pattern along the center of the fused petal margins, comprising (a) obtaining a tissue cutting from said plant, (b) culturing said tissue cutting under conditions sufficient to produce a plantlet with roots and shoots; and (c) growing said plantlet to produce a plant, wherein said pattern extends from the center of the inflorescence towards the edge of the petals and does not fade during the life of the inflorescence. In one embodiment, said star-shaped pattern extends from the center of the inflorescence to the edge of the petals.
This patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of necessary fee.
The present inventors discovered a new Calibrachoa plant comprising at least one inflorescence with a star-shaped pattern along the center of the fused petal margins, wherein said pattern extends from the center of the inflorescence towards the edge of the petals and does not fade during the life of the inflorescence. The star-shaped pattern manifests itself in a white color, such that the pattern is not the same color as petal color and thereby contrasts intensely against petal color.
The petal colors of Calibrachoa are determined through the interaction of two layers of color pigment, carotenoid and anthocyanin. The carotenoid color may be yellow and the anthocyanin color may be pink, purple, or blue. The present star-shaped pattern is a result of a mutation and manifests as a white star against a yellow petal background. Regardless of the genetics, the star-shaped pattern can be reproducibly and predictably introgressed into diverse genetic backgrounds of Calibrachoa to create new varieties.
As used herein, a star-shaped pattern refers to a pigmentation pattern that appears during the bud stage and produces a clearly delineated star along each crease in the petals of each flower. The star pattern extends from the center of the inflorescence towards the edge of the petals. In some embodiments, the pattern extends all of the way to the edge of the petals. In other embodiments, the pattern may extend some distance towards the edge of the petals, but not entirely to the edge. For example, and non-limiting, a star-shaped pattern may extend less than halfway to the petals edge, more than halfway to the petals edge, or any distance between the center of the inflorescence and the edge of the petals. An exemplary star-shaped pattern can be seen in
As discussed above, the star-shape can manifest as a white star. Notably, the star pattern is not the same color as petal color. For example, and in one embodiment, the star pattern is white, and the petals are yellow.
“Plant” includes plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant cells of tissue culture from which Calibrachoa plants can be regenerated from plant calli, plant clumps and plant cells that are intact in plants or parts of plants such as pollen, flowers, pistils, anthers, seeds, leaves, stems, and the like.
The present disclosure embraces a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USCAL5302M’ (‘Lemon Slice’).
The new Calibrachoa plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of a Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL53002’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,660. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single flowering plant within a population of plants of ‘USCAL53002’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Gensingen, Germany on Jun. 8, 2010. Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany since Jun. 8, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.
The instant star pattern can be stably and predictably introgressed into diverse Calibrachoa genetic backgrounds. The instant Calibrachoa can be used as a male or female parent in crosses for introducing the trait into new Calibrachoa plants, thereby creating diverse Calibrachoa genetic backgrounds.
Additionally, and as known in the art, Calibrachoa plants can be reproduced asexually by vegetative propagation or other clonal method known in the art. For example, and in no way limiting, a Calibrachoa plant having at least one inflorescence with the instant dark yellow flower color and white star pattern, can be reproduced by (a) obtaining a tissue cutting from said plant, (b) culturing said tissue cutting under conditions sufficient to produce a plantlet with roots and shoots; and (c) growing said plantlet to produce a plant.
The following Examples are illustrative and do not limit the disclosure.
The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements, and values describe plants grown during the spring in 11.4-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse and finished in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif.
During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were pinched one time and were seven weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
Color:
Petiole:
Flower bud:
Corolla:
Color:
Calyx:
Peduncles:
Reproductive Organs:
Stamens:
Pistils:
Seeds and Fruits:
The closest known variety to ‘Lemon Slice’ is parent plant ‘USCAL53002.’ ‘Lemon Slice’ differs from parent plant ‘USCAL53002’ primarily in flower color and pattern. Parent ‘USCAL53002’ has solid dark yellow-colored flowers and does not have a star-shaped pattern. Thus, in comparison, ‘Lemon Slice’ has a dark yellow flowers with a white star-shaped pattern.
The instant ‘Lemon Slice’ Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of Calibrachoa ‘USCALI402-1’, as disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10 19,480. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Calibrachoa differed primarily from plants of ‘USCALI402-1’ in flower color as plants of ‘USCALI402-1’ had pale yellow-colored flowers.
The instant star pattern can be stably and predictably introgressed into diverse Calibrachoa genetic backgrounds. The instant Calibrachoa can be used as a male or female parent in crosses for introducing the trait into new Calibrachoa plants, thereby creating diverse Calibrachoa genetic backgrounds.
Additionally, and as known in the art, Calibrachoa plants can be reproduced asexually by vegetative propagation or other clonal method known in the art. For example, and in no way limiting, a Calibrachoa plant having at least one inflorescence with the instant dark yellow flower color and white star pattern, can be reproduced by (a) obtaining a tissue cutting from said plant, (b) culturing said tissue cutting under conditions sufficient to produce a plantlet with roots and shoots; and (c) growing said plantlet to produce a plant.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-7544 | Mar 2012 | CA | national |
The present application claims priority to Canadian Plant Breeders' Rights application no. 12-______, filed Mar. 9, 2012 and U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. ______, filed Jul. 5, 2011. Each prior application in its entirety is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13507518 | Jul 2012 | US |
| Child | 13791614 | US |
