USCAL840M2

Calibrachoa

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'KLECA09204' (MiniFamous Double Lemon) and 'KLECA11225' (MiniFamous Double Deep Yellow)

Summary: The leaf blade of 'USCAL840M2' is longer than that of 'KLECA09204'. The upper side of the leaf blade of 'USCAL840M2' is medium green whereas it is dark green for 'KLECA11225'. The pedicel of 'USCAL840M2' has a strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas that of both reference varieties have absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration. The corolla of 'USCAL840M2' is wider than that of 'KLECA09204'. The flower of 'USCAL840M2' has a weak degree of lobing while both reference varieties have a medium degree of lobing. The conspicuousness of veins of the corolla of 'USCAL840M2' is strong whereas it is weak to medium for 'KLECA09204' and very weak to weak for 'KLECA11225'. When newly open, the inner side of the corolla of 'USCAL840M2' is yellow orange whereas it is yellow for 'KLECA09204' and brighter yellow for 'KLECA11225'. When fully open, the inner side of the corolla of 'USCAL840M2' is yellow orange with grey brown veins whereas it is light yellow with darker yellow veins for 'KLECA09204' and yellow with dull yellow green veins for 'KLECA11225'. When aged, the inner side of the corolla of 'USCAL840M2' is yellow orange to light yellow whereas it is white with yellow to light yellow tones for 'KLECA09204' and yellow for 'KLECA11225'.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit

LEAF BLADE: narrow acute apex, no variegation, medium green (grey) on upper side

PEDICEL: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER: double type, weak degree of lobing
COROLLA: inner side is yellow orange (RHS 14A-B) when newly open, lighter yellow orange (RHS 14B-C) with grey brown (RHS N199C-D) veins when fully open, and yellow orange to light yellow (RHS 14C-D) when aged; strong conspicuousness of veins, absent or very small area of colour change at transition to corolla tube, absent or very small area of main colour of inner side of corolla tube extending onto base of lower corolla lobes
COROLLA LOBE: cuspidate apex

Origin & Breeding History: 'USCAL840M2' originated as a naturally-occurring branch mutation of a proprietary seedling '09C840-01'. It was discovered on July 7, 2011 in Bonsall, California by breeder, Ushio Sakazaki, of Higashiomi-shi, Shiga, Japan. It was selected based on its plant growth habit, dark yellow double-type flowers, long flowering period and disease tolerance. 'USCAL840M2' was first propagated by vegetative cuttings on August 7, 2011 in Bonsall, California.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'USCAL840M2' 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 9, 2014. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'USCAL840M2' with reference varieties 'KLECA09204' and 'KLECA11225'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Corolla width (cm)

Colour of inner side of corolla lobe (RHS)

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Calibrachoa: 'USCAL840M2' (left) with reference varieties 'KLECA09204' (centre) and 'KLECA11225' (right)

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Calibrachoa: 'USCAL840M2' (left) with reference varieties 'KLECA09204' (centre) and 'KLECA11225' (right)

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Calibrachoa: 'USCAL840M2' (left) with reference varieties 'KLECA09204' (centre) and 'KLECA11225' (right)