Sunbel 205

Calibrachoa

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Sunbelriki' (Million Bells Neon Yellow) and 'Sunbelki' (Million Bells Yellow)

Summary: The plants of 'Sunbel 205' are shorter than those of both reference varieties. The shoots of 'Sunbel 205' are longer than those of 'Sunbelriki' and shorter than those of 'Sunbelki'. The leaf blade of 'Sunbel 205' has an obtuse apex while the leaf blade of both reference varieties has a broad acute apex. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the pedicel of 'Sunbel 205' is absent or very weak whereas that of 'Sunbelki' is medium to strong. The sepal of 'Sunbel 205' is shorter than that of both reference varieties. The corolla of 'Sunbel 205' is wider than that of 'Sunbelriki'. The conspicuousness of the veins of the corolla of 'Sunbel 205' is weak while it is medium for 'Sunbelki'. When fully open, the inner side of the corolla of 'Sunbel 205' is light yellow with yellow veins whereas it is yellow with slightly darker yellow veins for 'Sunbelriki' and light yellow with dark brown and yellow tones along the primary vein and dark brown secondary veins for 'Sunbelki'. The inner side of the corolla tube of 'Sunbel 205' is light yellow brown with green brown primary veins and light yellow brown secondary veins while the inner side of the corolla tube of 'Sunbelriki' is yellow and that of 'Sunbelki' is yellow with light yellow brown tones fading to lighter yellow at the base with dark brown veins.

Description:

PLANT: upright to semi-upright growth habit

LEAF BLADE: obtuse apex, no variegation, dark green on upper side

PEDICEL: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER: single type, medium degree of lobing
COROLLA: inner side is yellow (RHS 12A) when newly open, light yellow (RHS 12C) with yellow (RHS 12A-B) veins when fully open and light yellow (RHS 12D) with light yellow (RHS 12C) veins when aged; weak conspicuousness of veins, no colour change at transition to corolla tube
COROLLA LOBE: truncate apex
COROLLA TUBE: inner side is light yellow brown (RHS 160B-C) with green brown (RHS 152D) primary veins and light yellow brown (RHS 162A-B) secondary veins

Origin & Breeding History: 'Sunbel 205' originated from a controlled cross conducted in September 2009 at the Omi Research and Development Center of Suntory Flowers Ltd. in Higashiomi-shi, Shiga, Japan. The cross involved the two proprietary varieties, 'T641-2' as the female parent and '8571-203' as the male parent. Seeds from the pollination were germinated and grown to maturity. A single plant was selected in July 2010 based on its flower colour and growth habit. The selected plant was further propagated by cuttings and grown in pots in trials conducted between November 2010 and September 2011 to assess its botanical characteristics and confirm that the selection characteristics remained stable. It was later named 'Sunbel 205'.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Sunbel 205' was conducted as an outdoor irrigated hanging basket trial during the summer of 2014 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 20 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 30 cm hanging baskets on April 18, 2014 and transferred outside on June 10, 2014. Each basket contained 4 cuttings with a total of 5 baskets per variety. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety on July 7, 2014. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Sunbel 205' with reference varieties 'Sunbelriki' and 'Sunbelki'

Plant height (cm)

Shoot length (cm)

Sepal length (cm)

Corolla width (cm)

Colour of inner side of corolla when fully open (RHS)

Colour of inner side of corolla tube (RHS)

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Calibrachoa: 'Sunbel 205' (left) with reference varieties 'Sunbelriki' (centre) and 'Sunbelki' (right)

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Calibrachoa: 'Sunbel 205' (left) with reference varieties 'Sunbelriki' (centre) and 'Sunbelki' (right)

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Calibrachoa: 'Sunbel 205' (left) with reference varieties 'Sunbelriki' (centre) and 'Sunbelki' (right)