Patent Grant
PP35253
Latin name of the genus and species of the claimed plant: Sansevieria: Sansevieria trisfaciata.
Plant variety denomination: ‘PHEASANT TAIL’.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Sansevieria plant, botanically known as Sansevieria trifasciata, of the family Asparagaceae, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Pheasant Tail’
Sansevieria is a monocotyledonous and succulent, flowering plant which can be produced in either hard-leafed or soft-leafed varieties for interior use as a house plant or outdoors ornamental plant.
The new Sansevieria plant variety ‘Pheasant Tail’, originated from a laboratory induced mutation of the Sansevieria ‘Wintergreen’ covered by U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,939. The new Sansevieria ‘Pheasant Tail’ was discovered and selected by the inventor, Arturo Brenes Angulo, as a single plant in a group of mutant plants arising from calli of ‘Wintergreen’ variety, under controlled environment.
In the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory of the Agronomic Research Center of the University of Costa Rica, meristems of the plant variety ‘Wintergreen’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,939, were established in vitro in Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium, containing Thidiazuron (TDZ) (Sigma-Aldrich) in different concentrations, to induce the formation of calli and shoots.
When shoots reached at least 2 cm in length, they were separated and subcultured in the same medium without TDZ to promote growth and rooting. After 8 weeks, when plantlets were approximately 8 cm long, they were taken to the greenhouse and acclimatized in seedling trays containing peat moss with perlite (TS1, Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH, Germany). After 8 weeks, completely rooted and acclimatized plants were transplanted to 260 m cups containing the same substrate as for acclimatization. Vitroplants were fertilized with complete formula every 8 weeks. When plants were 6 months old, and presented 4 to 6 leaves, they were artificially inoculated with C. sansevierie, the causal agent of Sansevieria anthracnose, to determine if any of them showed resistance to the disease. From 436 plants inoculated, 234 showed resistance. All of them were taken to the field in Bajo Rodriguez in Alajuela province, to be evaluated and to determine their potential to be developed as a new plant variety. After one year of field evaluation, one of the variants was selected for its phenotypic characteristics and propagated under the same conditions to start the commercial evaluation process.
Asexual reproduction of the new Sansevieria plant variety by vegetative cuttings was first performed in January 2019 in Bajo Los Rodriguez, San Ramón, Alajuela, and demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new plant variety are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type and shows high resistance level to anthracnose disease and its leaves are extremely tough to indoor conditions.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of the new plant variety ‘Pheasant Tail’, which in combination distinguish this Sansevieria as a new and distinct cultivar:
The new variety ‘Pheasant Tail’, is considered a variety of Sansevieria in the group denominated as “long leaves Sansevieria varieties”. Presents an average of 4-7 leaves per plant when it reaches its maturity (between 8-10 months). The new plant variety ‘Pheasant Tail’ shows erect growth habit and the entire plant can reach a high range between 50-90 cm. The leaves are narrow and lanceolated (3-5 cm average measured at the widest part of the mature leaf), with a soft waxy texture and the blades are thin and slightly wavy. The plant has a cylindrical shape and shows colors very different from its parent variety ‘Wintergreen’ (Patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,939). Unlike its parent variety ‘Pheasant Tail’ shows variegated leaves with different banding tones and produces more leaves per rosette.
This variety is moderately drought tolerant, highly resistant to anthracnose disease (C. sansevierae) and adapts well to conditions of light and shade (interior and exterior).
The mature leaf blade is deep green colored (RHS 139A) and presents also non- uniform horizontal narrow variegated bands in both sides of the leaves, with RHS 145D coloration.
General traits of ‘Pheasant Tail’
Plants of the new Sansevieria plant variety ‘Pheasant Tail’ differ from plants of the parental cultivar, ‘Wintergreen’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,939), in the characteristics described in Table 1.
The variety ‘Wintergreen’ gave rise to the variety ‘Pheasant Tail’ through a mutagenesis process. The ‘Pheasant Tail’ variety is also considered into the “Long leaves varieties” group. Shows more vigor than ‘Wintergreen’, higher number of leaves per plant (5-7), with an average width of 3-5 cm (measured in the middle of the mature leaf). The growth habit is erect and presents narrow leaves supported in a rosette. The entire plant can reach a size between 50-90 cm, The plant shows, as for ‘Wintergreen’, a cylindrical shape. The leaves are lanceolated with a soft, waxy texture. The younger leaves show a green vivid coloration (RHS 143A) in the upper surface of the leaf blade with irregular streaks or narrow pale-green bands (RHS 149C). In the lower surface, irregular horizontal bands alternate between green (RHS 144A) and broad pale green bands (RHS 142D). Irrespectively of the maturity, leaves do not show any remarkable margins.
Plants of the new Sansevieria ‘Pheasant Tail’ differ from plants of the parental cultivar, ‘Wintergreen’ (patented) in the characteristics described in Table 1.
Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new Sansevieria ‘Pheasant Tail’ is the Sansevieria ‘Wintergreen’ (patented), however, unlike the ‘Wintergreen’, ‘Pheasant Tail’ variety shows high resistance to anthracnose disease which gives it competitiveness were other Sansevieria varieties fail. Plants of the new variety ‘Pheasant Tail’ can also be compared to the commercial variety Sansvieria ‘Spearmint’ (patented), which also came from the plant variety ‘Wintergreen’ (patented).
Plants of the new variety differ in the following characteristics:
The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Sansevieria plant variety ‘Pheasant Tail’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the color of ‘Pheasant Tail’.
The new Sansevieria plant variety ‘Pheasant Tail’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The new cultivar may shows phenotypic changes with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.
The photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Sansevieria Tail” plant variety ‘Pheasant Tail’ as grown in open-field conditions at Bajo Los Rodriguez, San Ramón, Alajuela province, Costa Rica, which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Average temperature at Bajo Los Rodriguez. is 26 ° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Plants grow under natural light conditions.
This crop does not require constant fertilization, however, to increase production per area about 200 kg ha-1 N, 150 kg ha-1 of P and 100 kg ha-1 K are required, the production is closely related with soil conditions in which they are grown.
Color references were made according to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S., April 2009). The photographs and descriptions were made during the rainy season in Bajo Los Rodriguez, San Ramón, Alajuela province, Costa Rica when outdoor day average temperature was 26° C. The age of the plants described is 9 months.
