SAKGOM004

Globe Amaranth

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Ping Pong Purple'

Summary: The plants of 'SAKGOM004' are shorter and have a bushy upright growth habit whereas the plants of 'Ping Pong Purple' have a narrow upright growth habit. The plants of 'SAKGOM004' have a high degree of branching whereas the plants of 'Ping Pong Purple' have a medium degree of branching. 'SAKGOM004' has a shorter petiole than 'Ping Pong Purple'. The leaf blade of 'SAKGOM004' is shorter than the leaf blade of 'Ping Pong Purple'. The leaf blade of 'SAKGOM004' ranges from elliptic to lanceolate with an acuminate apex whereas the leaf blade of 'Ping Pong Purple' ranges from oblanceolate to oblong with an acute apex. The inflorescence of 'SAKGOM004' is narrower with a shorter peduncle than the inflorescence of 'Ping Pong Purple'.

Description:

PLANT: upright bushy growth habit, high degree of branching
STEM: medium green, strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration at nodes only, very weak glaucosity, medium density of pubescence, medium thickness

LEAF: simple type
LEAF BLADE: ranges from elliptic to lanceolate shape, acuminate apex, cuneate to attenuate base, entire margin, no variegation, petiole present
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): sparse to medium density of pubescence, medium green
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, light to medium green

FLOWERING: begins mid-season, almost continuous
PEDUNCLE: weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium to dense pubescence
INFLORESCENCE: head type, globular shape, dense flowers
FLOWER: subtended by 2 overlapping bracteoles
BRACTEOLE: very overlapping arrangement, ranges from ovate to lanceolate shape, acuminate apex, absent or very weak recurvature of tip
BRACTEOLE (OUTER SIDE): violet (brighter than RHS N78A), white (RHS NN155A) at base

Origin & Breeding History: 'SAKGOM004' was developed by the breeders, Kazutoshi Mori and Masatoshi Tanaka, both employees of Sakata Seed Corporation in Yokohama, Japan. It originated from a controlled cross, conducted in Misato, Japan, in July 1998, between the female parent, '95G-11A-6E-1', and the male parent, '95G-11A-2A-3'. The resulting F1 seed was sown in April 1999 and produced 8 seedlings. From these, 3 plants were selected in July 1999 for their flower colour. From July 1999 to February 2009, seed from the 3 selected plants was sown, cross pollinated and the resultant seed harvested. In February 2009, approximately 2000 seeds were collected from these crosses and sown. From the resulting progenies, 1000 seedlings were selected for their flower colour and plant growth habit. In April 2009, a single plant was selected for flower colour and plant growth habit. The selection was vegetatively propagated and evaluated, from May to December 2009, in open field trials, in Misato. Vegetative cuttings of 'SAKGOM004' were shipped to California, USA, for final evaluation.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial was conducted in a polyhouse container trial, during the spring and summer of 2016, at Bioflora Inc., in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants of each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 15.5 cm containers on June 15, 2016. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each of the candidate and reference variety, on July 29, 2016. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticulture Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'SAKGOM004' with reference variety 'Ping Pong Purple'

Plant height (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Peduncle length (cm)

Inflorescence width (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Globe Amaranth: 'SAKGOM004' (left) with reference variety 'Ping Pong Purple' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Globe Amaranth: 'SAKGOM004' (left) with reference variety 'Ping Pong Purple' (right)