USCAL69404

Calibrachoa

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'USCAL91001' (Superbells Cherry Star)

Summary: The pedicel of 'USCAL69404' is longer than the pedicel of 'USCAL91001'. When fully opened, the inner side of the corolla of 'USCAL69404' is dark pink red with dark purple red veins at the base and a medium width yellow area at the margin and along the fused part of the corolla lobes whereas the inner side of the corolla of 'USCAL91001' is blue pink with purple red veins and a narrow yellow area along the fused part of the corolla lobes. The shape of the apex of the corolla lobe of 'USCAL69404' is cuspidate while it is truncate for 'USCAL91001'.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit

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

PEDICEL: no anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER: single type
COROLLA: weak degree of lobing, weak conspicuousness of veins
COROLLA LOBE (INNER SIDE): mainly dark pink red (RHS 53C) with dark purple red (darker than RHS 59A) veins and yellow (brighter than RHS 5A) at the margin and along fused part of corolla lobes when newly opened, dark pink red (RHS 53C-D) with dark purple red (RHS 53A) veins at the base with a medium width yellow (RHS 5A-B) area at the margin and along fused part of corolla lobes when fully opened, purple red (RHS 54A-B) with yellow (RHS 5B) at the margin and along fused part of corolla lobes when aged, cuspidate apex
COROLLA TUBE (INNER SIDE): main colour yellow (duller than RHS 7A), absent or very small rounded area of dark purple red (duller than RHS 53A) colour extending onto lower corolla lobes, large wedge-shaped yellow (RHS 5A-B) marking at transition, medium conspicuousness of veins

Origin & Breeding History: 'USCAL69404' originated from a controlled cross between the female parent proprietary seedling designated '14CJ21-01' and the male parent proprietary seedling designated '14CJ26-02' conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan on May 8, 2014. The new variety was developed by the breeder, Ushio Sakazaki, in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. 'USCAL69404' was selected as a single seedling from the resultant progeny on June 9, 2015 in Bonsall, California, USA based on plant vigour, plant branching; flower colour and pattern. The new variety 'USCAL69404' was first propagated by vegetative tip cuttings on June 10, 2015, in Bonsall, California, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'USCAL69404' was conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2018 at BioFlora, Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 20 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 30 cm hanging baskets on May 6, 2018. 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 June 18, 2018. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'USCAL69404' with reference variety 'USCAL91001'

Pedicel length (cm)

Colour of corolla when fully opened (RHS)

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Calibrachoa: 'USCAL69404' (left) with reference variety 'USCAL91001' (right)

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Calibrachoa: 'USCAL69404' (left) with reference variety 'USCAL91001' (right)

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Calibrachoa: 'USCAL69404' (left) with reference variety 'USCAL91001' (right)