Power White

Chrysanthemum

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'White Cherie'

Summary: 'Power White' has a smaller number of flower heads showing colour when the terminal head is fully open than 'White Cherie'. 'Power White' is in the eight week response group while 'White Cherie' is in the seven week response group. 'Power White' has yellow disc florets before and after anther dehiscence while 'White Cherie' has yellow and white disc florets before and after dehiscence. 'Power White' has shorter disc florets than 'White Cherie'.

Description:

PLANT: year round cultivation for pot production, spray flowering type, 8 week response group, very short to short height, medium to many primary lateral shoots
STEM: short internode length, medium thickness, no anthocyanin colouration, medium to strong strength

LEAF: ascending to horizontal attitude, medium to long, medium width, small length to width ratio, dark green on upper side, broad wedge base shape, short to medium length lower lobe, diverging margins of sinus between lateral lobes, terminal lobe with teeth present, no secondary lobes on terminal lobe

INFLORESCENCE: cylindrical form, no secondary lateral flower heads, few to medium number of flower heads showing colour when terminal head is fully expanded
FLOWER HEAD: single, daisy type, self coloured, white colour group, medium diameter, peduncle medium in thickness
RAY FLORETS: ascending attitude relative to floral axis, medium to high number, bracts present among florets, outer florets medium in length and width, small length to width ratio, reflexing to twisted along longitudinal axis, weak to medium curvature at the distal half, no pubescence on outer side, tip rounded with notch, outer and inner side white
DISC: medium diameter, yellow before and after anther dehiscence, tubular, type 4 distribution, short disc florets.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Power White' was discovered as a naturally occurring chance mutation of the variety 'White Cherie'. It was selected for its improved flower colour in July of 2007 at Niagara on the Lake, Ontario. Asexual reproduction by stem cuttings was first conducted in July 2007.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Power White' were conducted at Niagara on the Lake, Ontario in the Fall of 2008. The trial consisted of 15 plants of each variety, grown in 12.5 cm pots in the greenhouse. The plants were spaced 15 cm apart. Observations and measurements were taken on 10 plants of each variety. Colours were determined using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

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Chrysanthemum: 'Power White' (left) with reference variety 'White Cherie' (right)