Divoro

Diascia

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Diastu' (Flying Colors Trailing Antique Rose) and 'Wink Pink Improved'

Summary: 'Divoro' has short plants with a semi-upright growth habit, whereas the plants of 'Diastu' are short to medium in height with a spreading growth habit and the plants of 'Wink Pink Improved' are medium in height with a semi-upright habit. The plants of 'Divoro' have less branching density than the reference varieties. 'Divoro' has shorter leaves than either reference variety. The lower corolla lobe of 'Divoro' has no trichomal elaiophores, while 'Diastu' has a moderate density of elaiophores on the lower lobe. 'Divoro' also differs from the reference varieties in flower colour and spur colour.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit, short, narrow to medium width, medium branching density, no anthocyanin colouration on stems

LEAF BLADE: medium green, short, medium width, no variegation, no anthocyanin colouration, truncate and cordate base, narrow acute apex, dentate margin (with shallow incisions), no hairiness

PEDUNCLE: short to medium internodes with medium length pedicels
COROLLA: short to medium length, medium to broad width, blue pink inner surface, moderate reflexing of lateral lobes
LOWER LOBE: as long as broad, very weak undulation of margin, no trichomal elaiophores
COROLLA THROAT: one or two medium yellow spots
SPUR: dark purple red to purple, moderate curvature

Origin & Breeding History: 'Divoro' was developed by the breeder Har Stemkens, an employee of Syngenta Seeds B.V., in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The variety originated from a controlled cross made in August 2001, in Enkhuizen, between the female parent 'Diastu' and the male parent 'C0004-2'. A single plant was selected from this cross in May 2002, based on criteria for compact habit, earliness, flower colour and field performance. Asexual reproduction by vegetative cuttings was first conducted in June 2002.

Tests & Trials: The trials for 'Divoro' were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2006 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings transplanted into 11 cm pots on March 31, 2006. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on May 17, 2006. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 RHS colour chart.

Comparison tables for 'Divoro' with reference varieties 'Diastu' and 'Wink Pink Improved'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Main colour of corolla (RHS)

Colour of spur (RHS)

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Diascia: 'Divoro' (left) with reference varieties 'Diastu' (centre) and 'Wink Pink Improved' (right)

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Diascia: 'Divoro' (left) with reference varieties 'Diastu' (centre) and 'Wink Pink Improved' (right)

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Diascia: 'Divoro' (left) with reference varieties 'Diastu' (centre) and 'Wink Pink Improved' (right)