USCALI28

Calibrachoa

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Sunbelre' (Million Bells Red)

Summary: 'USCALI28' is a shorter plant with shorter shoots than 'Sunbelre'. The corolla diameter of 'USCALI28' is larger than in 'Sunbelre'. 'USCALI28' has a stronger degree of lobing with weaker undulation of the margin than 'Sunbelre'. The apex of the corolla lobe is truncate shaped in 'USCALI28' while it is cuspidate in 'Sunbelre'. 'USCALI28' has a darker red corolla lobe colour than 'Sunbelre'.

Description:

'USCALI28' is a calibrachoa variety with an upright growth habit and medium plant height. The shoots are medium in thickness and medium to long in length with a weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin. The leaves are medium green, elliptic in shape, with a broadly acute apex. There is no variegation or blistering present on the leaf blade. The sepals are lanceolate in shape with anthocyanin present along the midrib only. 'USCALI28' produces single, funnelform, red flowers. The corolla has strong lobing with weak undulation of the margin and medium to strong conspicuousness of the purple/brown mid vein. The corolla lobe apex is truncate. The inside of the corolla tube is yellow and has veins of strong conspicuousness. Anther colour is yellow.

Origin & Breeding History: 'USCALI28' is the product of a planned breeding program conducted by the breeder, Ushio Sakazaki of Hikone Shiga, Japan. The objectives of the program was to create new semi-upright calibrachoa varieties with greater disease resistance and heat tolerance. 'USCALI28' originated from a cross made by the breeder on May 10, 1998 in Shiga, Japan, with the red seedling selection 'CJ29-1' as the female parent, and the red seedling selection 'CJ28-4' as the male parent. The F1 seed was collected and sent to Gensingen, Germany for further breeding and selection. 'USCALI28' was selected as a single plant from the resulting progeny on June 15, 1999 in Germany. The selection criteria included semi-upright growth habit, large flower size, and superior summer performance.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'USCALI28' were conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2003 in St. Thomas, Ontario. Trials included a total of 18 plants of each variety. Plants were grown from rooted cuttings transplanted into 25cm baskets on April 30, 2003 (week 18). Each basket contained 3 cuttings with a total of six baskets per variety. All colour characteristics were determined using the 2001 RHS colour chart and measured characteristics were based on ten plant measurements.

Comparison tables for 'USCALI28' with reference variety 'Sunbelre'

Plant height (cm)

Diameter of corolla (mm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)