Zored

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'KLEP03111' (Moonlight Brilliant Red) and 'Zonascat' (Fidelity L Scarlet)

Summary: 'Zored' differs from the reference varieties, 'KLEP03111' and 'Zonascat', mainly in number of branches and inflorescences per plant, peduncle length, anthocyanin colouration of the peduncle, upper petal width, pedicel length and pedicel colour. 'Zored' has a medium number of branches and inflorescences per plant whereas 'KLEP03111' has few to medium and 'Zonascat' has many. The peduncles of 'Zored' are medium in length whereas they are short to medium in 'KLEP03111' and long in 'Zonascat'. There is no anthocyanin colouration on the peduncle of 'Zored' whereas it is strong to very strong on 'KLEP03111'. The upper petals of 'Zored' are narrow to medium in width whereas they are medium to broad in 'KLEP03111' and narrow in 'Zonascat'. The pedicels of 'Zored' are medium to long whereas they are medium in length in 'Zonascat'. The pedicel of 'Zored' is green and medium red whereas they are dark red in 'KLEP03111' and green in 'Zonascat'.

Description:

PLANT: upright to intermediate growth habit, medium height, medium to broad in width, medium number of branches
STEM: green, medium thickness, dense pubescence

LEAF: medium to long, medium to broad in width, wide open to open base
MARGIN: bicrenate, lobing present, shallow incisions, strong waviness
UPPER SIDE: dense pubescence, medium green, no variegation
LEAF ZONE: weak, green, normal position
PETIOLE: medium length, dense pubescence

INFLORESCENCE: red colour group, medium number per plant, medium diameter
PEDUNCLE: medium length, dense pubescence, no anthocyanin colouration
FLORET: bud elliptic, single to semi-double, medium diameter, few to medium number of petals, margin entire
UPPER PETAL: narrow to medium width, upper side red (brighter than RHS 44B) in middle and along the margins of upper side with weak red (RHS 42A) striped markings, red (RHS 43B) with small white zone at base, lower side red (RHS 43B)
LOWER PETAL: medium width, upper side is red (brighter than RHS 44B) in middle and along the margins, no markings, small white zone at base of upper side, red (RHS 43B) on lower side
PEDICEL: medium to long, dense pubescence, green and medium red on middle third, no swelling
SEPAL: dense pubescence, green with red at base

Origin & Breeding History: 'Zored' originated from a controlled pollination made in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands in 1998. The female parent, identified as number T016 was crossed by the male parent, identified as T065. A single seedling was selected in April 1999 and propagated by cuttings. The new pelargonium was tested one year later at greenhouse and field performance trials in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands and evaluated for criteria including earliness, good branching, good and stable flower colour, flower size, rich and continuous flowering and resistance against Botrytis. In the same year it was tested in Sarrians, Southern France for heat resistance and resistance to drought stress.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Zored' 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 'Zored' with reference varieties 'KLEP03111' and 'Zonascat'

Peduncle length (cm)

Upper petal width (cm))

Pedicel length (cm)

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Pelargonium: 'Zored' (left) with reference varieties 'KLEP03111' (centre) and 'Zonascat' (right)

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Pelargonium: 'Zored' (left) with reference varieties 'KLEP03111' (centre) and 'Zonascat' (right)