PECZ0003

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Amrilight Pinkspla Two' (Americana Light Pink Splash)

Summary: The depth of the leaf blade sinus is medium deep for 'PECZ0003' while it is shallow for 'Amrilight Pinkspla Two'. 'PECZ0003' has a broader inflorescence with shorter peduncle than 'Amrilight Pinkspla Two'. The arrangement of the upper flower petals in relation to the lower petals is moderately overlapping for 'PECZ0003' while it is free to touching for 'Amrilight Pinkspla Two'. The petals of 'PECZ0003' are broader than those of 'Amrilight Pinkspla Two'. The margin and middle of the upper petals of 'PECZ0003' are white while they are mainly light blue violet for 'Amrilight Pinkspla Two'. The margin and middle of the lower petals of 'PECZ0003' are white while they are violet for 'Amrilight Pinkspla Two'. The spot marking on the upper and lower petals of 'PECZ0003' is larger than that on the petals of 'Amrilight Pinkspla Two'.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit
STEM: green, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration

LEAF BLADE: medium depth of sinus, medium undulation of margin, slightly open base, no variegation, medium green (zone excluded), absent or very weak conspicuousness of zone

PEDUNCLE: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of middle third
PEDICEL: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of upper third, no swelling
SEPAL: absent or very weak reflexing, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of middle of broadest sepal
FLOWER: single, arrangement of upper petals in relation to lower petals is moderately overlapping, cross-section in lateral view is concave, irregularly distributed stripes or blotches are absent
UPPER PETAL: spatulate, entire margin, margin of upper side is white (whiter than RHS NN155D), middle of upper side is white (RHS N155B), lower side is white (RHS NN155D) with purple red (RHS N57B-C) blotches, marking is stripes and spots, strong conspicuousness of marking, largest spot is purple red (RHS 58B) changing to darker purple red (RHS N57A) at transition to white, medium sized white zone at base
LOWER PETAL: margin of upper side is white (whiter than RHS NN155D), middle of upper side is white (RHS N155B), lower side is white (whiter than RHS NN155D), marking is a large single purple red (redder than RHS N57A) spot, strong conspicuousness of marking, medium sized white zone at base

Origin & Breeding History: 'PECZ0003' was bred and developed by the breeder, Mitchell Hanes, as part of a controlled breeding program. It originated from a cross pollination between a proprietary line with white splash flower colour designated '10286-14' as the female parent, and a proprietary line with light pink splash flower colour designated '10282-1' as the male parent. This cross was conducted in Gilroy, California, United States in January 2007. The resultant seed was collected and sown in a greenhouse in Gilroy in May 2007. In September 2007, a single plant was selected using flower colour, plant habit, and production characteristics as the selection criteria. This selection was named 'PECZ0003'.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'PECZ0003' were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring and summer of 2012 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. There were a total of 20 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 15 cm shallow pots on May 2, 2012. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on June 19, 2012. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticulture Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'PECZ0003' with reference variety 'Amrilight Pinkspla Two'

Length of peduncle (cm)

Width of inflorescence (cm)

Width of upper petal (cm)

Colour of upper side of upper petal (RHS)

Colour of lower petal (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Pelargonium: 'PECZ0003' (left) with reference variety 'Amrilight Pinkspla Two' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Pelargonium: 'PECZ0003' (left) with reference variety 'Amrilight Pinkspla Two' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Pelargonium: 'PECZ0003' (left) with reference variety 'Amrilight Pinkspla Two' (right)