Zonasalmo

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Fishelus' and 'Fishelen'

Summary: 'Zonasalmo' is a zonal pelargonium variety which has a moderately to strongly conspicuous reddish brown zone on the upper side of the leaf blade. The leaves of the reference varieties 'Fishelus' and 'Fishelen' have a weaker zone than 'Zonasalmo' but have stronger waviness of the leaf margin. 'Zonasalmo' has more anthocyanin colouration on the peduncle than the reference varieties. The white zone at the base of the upper and lower petals is significantly smaller in 'Zonasalmo' than in 'Fishelen'.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, medium to tall, broad width, few branches
STEM: green with weak red colouration, moderately thick, dense pubescence

LEAF BLADE: medium length, medium width, open to closed base
LEAF MARGIN: crenate, moderate lobing, shallow incisions, moderate waviness
UPPER SIDE OF BLADE: medium green, dense pubescence, no variegation
LEAF ZONE: moderately to strongly conspicuous, normal position, reddish brown
PETIOLE: medium length, dense pubescence

INFLORESCENCE: medium number to many per plant, salmon group, medium diameter
PEDUNCLE: medium length, dense pubescence, weak to medium anthocyanin colouration
FLORET: semi-double, elliptic bud, overlapping petals, entire petal margin
UPPER PETAL: medium width, red pink, very weakly conspicuous striped markings, small white basal zone
LOWER PETAL: red pink, no markings, small white basal zone
PEDICEL: medium length, dense pubescence, medium red in middle third, no swelling
SEPAL: dense pubescence, green

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Zonasalmo' originated from a controlled pollination between a female parent plant identified as number J2214-1 and pollen from male plant identified as T050. The cross was made in 2000 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. A single seedling was selected in April 2001 and propagated by cuttings. The new variety was tested one year later at greenhouse and field performance trials in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, and was evaluated for criteria including earliness, good branching, good and stable flower colour, flower size, continuous flowering and resistance against Botrytis. In the same year it was tested in Sarrians, Southern France for heat and drought resistance.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Zonasalmo' were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring/summer of 2006 at St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 15 plants of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings planted into 10cm pots on May 1, 2006 and then transplanted into 20cm pots on June 26, 2006. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on September 18, 2006. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Zonasalmo' with reference varieties 'Fishelus' and 'Fishelen'

Colour of upper petal (RHS)

Colour of lower petal (RHS)

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Pelargonium: 'Zonasalmo' (left) with reference varieties 'Fishelus' (centre) and 'Fishelen' (right)

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Pelargonium: 'Zonasalmo' (left) with reference varieties 'Fishelus' (centre) and 'Fishelen' (right)

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Pelargonium: 'Zonasalmo' (left) with reference varieties 'Fishelus' (centre) and 'Fishelen' (right)