Zopedaco

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Fip-101' (Shiva)

Summary: 'Zopedaco' has a larger plant size than 'Fip-101'. The leaf of 'Zopedaco' is larger with denser pubescence on the upper side than 'Fip-101'. 'Zopedaco' has a longer petiole, peduncle and pedicel than 'Fip-101'. The floret of 'Zopedaco' has more petals than 'Fip-101'. 'Zopedaco' has a red pink colour on the lower side of the flower petal while it is purple red to dark pink red in 'Fip-101'. The marking on the upper petal of 'Zopedaco' is dark purple red while it is brown purple in 'Fip-101'.

Description:

PLANT: intermediate to spreading growth habit, medium height, very broad, few to medium number of branches
STEM: thin to medium thickness, moderate pubescence, green

LEAF: medium length and width, open to closed base, entire margin, medium degree of lobing present, medium incisions of the lobes, medium waviness of margin, dense pubescence on the upper side, medium green, no variegation, medium to strong conspicuousness of reddish brown ring at the base on upper side, short to medium length petiole, moderate pubescence on petiole

INFLORESCENCE: salmon-orange colour group, few per plant, small to medium diameter, short to medium length peduncle, moderate pubescence on peduncle, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of peduncle
FLORET: double type, medium diameter, elliptic bud shape, many to very many petals, entire petal margin
UPPER PETAL: very narrow to narrow, vibrant red and pink, weak to medium conspicuous dark purple stripes present
LOWER PETAL: narrow, vibrant red and pink
PEDICEL: short to medium length, moderate pubescence, middle third green, no swelling
SEPAL: moderate pubescence, green

Origin & Breeding History: 'Zopedaco' originated from a controlled pollination made in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands in 2001. The female parent, identified as 1193 was crossed by the male parent, a mix of pollen from several plants. The new variety was selected as a single seedling from the resultant progeny in April 2002. 'Zopedaco' was evaluated in greenhouse and field performance trials in April 2003 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands for earliness, good branching, good and stable flower colour, flower size, rich and continuous flowering, and resistance against Botrytis. In that same year it was tested in Sarrians, South France, for heat resistance and resistance to drought stress.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Zopedaco' were conducted in a polyhouse during the summer of 2006 at St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of the candidate and reference varieties. Rooted cuttings were planted into 10 cm pots on May 1, 2006 and then transplanted into 20 cm pots on June 26, 2006. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Zopedaco' with reference variety 'Fip-101'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Leaf length (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Peduncle length (cm)

Pedicel length (cm)

Colour of upper petal (RHS)

Colour of lower petal (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Pelargonium: 'Zopedaco' (left) with reference variety 'Fip-101' (right)