USCAL66501

Calibrachoa

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'USCALI214-1' (Superbells Coral) and 'USCAL68604' (Superbells Blackberry Punch)

Summary: The plants of 'USCAL66501' are shorter than the plants of 'USCALI214-1'. The pedicel of 'USCAL66501' is shorter than the pedicel of 'USCALI214-1'. The flower of 'USCAL66501' is smaller in diameter than the flower of 'USCAL68604'. The upper side of the corolla lobe of 'USCAL66501' is light red pink with dark purple red and black secondary colour while the upper side of the corolla lobe of 'USCALI214-1' is red pink with no secondary colour and the corolla lobe of 'USCAL68604' is purple with black secondary colour. The apex of the corolla lobe is rounded for 'USCAL66501' while it is emarginated for 'USCAL68604'. The veins on the inner side of the corolla tube are weak to moderately conspicuous for 'USCAL66501' while they are strong for 'USCAL68604'.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit

LEAF BLADE: narrow acute apex, no variegation, upper side medium green

SEPAL: no anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER: single, medium degree of lobing on corolla lobes
COROLLA LOBE: rounded apex, two colours on upper side, upper side light red pink (RHS 37C) with tones of orange pink (RHS 37A) and light red pink (RHS 38A), secondary colour dark purple red (RHS 46A) with black (RHS N186A) at transition to corolla tube, moderately conspicuous veins on upper side, lower side light red pink (RHS 39C) with dark pink red (RHS 51B) towards mid-veins
COROLLA TUBE: inner side yellow (RHS 7A) with black (RHS N186A) at transition to corolla, weak to moderately conspicuous veins.

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'USCAL66501' originated from a controlled cross conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan on May 7, 2007. The female parent was a proprietary seedling with coral pink flowers with a small eye, designated CJ07-56, and the male parent was a proprietary seedling with peach coloured flowers with a large eye, designated CJ07-57. The new calibrachoa was selected as a single plant from the resultant progeny on May 21, 2008 in Bonsall, California, USA. The variety was selected based on criteria for excellent plant habit and novel flower and eye colour. 'USCAL66501' was first propagated by vegetative cuttings on May 23, 2008 in Bonsall, California, USA.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'USCAL66501' were conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2011 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 30 cm hanging baskets on May 11, 2011 and cut back on July 5, 2011. Each basket contained 3 cuttings with a total of 5 baskets per variety. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on August 2, 2011. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'USCAL66501' with reference varieties 'USCALI214-1' and 'USCAL68604'

Plant height (cm)

Pedicel length (cm)

Flower diameter (cm)

Colour of corolla lobe (RHS)

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Calibrachoa: 'USCAL66501' (left) with reference varieties 'USCALI214-1' (centre) and 'USCAL68604' (right)

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Calibrachoa: 'USCAL66501' (left) with reference varieties 'USCALI214-1' (centre) and 'USCAL68604' (right)

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Calibrachoa: 'USCAL66501' (left) with reference varieties 'USCALI214-1' (centre) and 'USCAL68604' (right)