PEQZ0003

Pelargonium

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Cante Ros' (Caliente Rose)

Summary: 'PEQZ0003' has a larger leaf blade and longer peduncle than 'Cante Ros'. Undulation of the leaf blade margin is weak for 'PEQZ0003' while it is strong for 'Cante Ros'. Anthocyanin colouration of the upper third of the pedicel is strong for 'PEQZ0003' while it is absent or very weak for 'Cante Ros'. Anthocyanin colouration of the middle of the broadest sepal is medium to strong for 'PEQZ0003' while it is absent to very weak for 'Cante Ros'. The colour on the lower side of the lower petal is dark red pink for 'PEQZ0003' while it is purple red for 'Cante Ros'.

Description:

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

LEAF BLADE: medium depth of sinus, weak undulation of margin, wide open to 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: strong anthocyanin colouration of upper third, swelling present at very bottom
SEPAL: absent to moderate reflexing, medium to strong anthocyanin colouration of middle of broadest sepal
FLOWER: single, arrangement of upper petals in relation to lower petals is free, cross-section in lateral view is concave, irregularly distributed stripes or blotches are absent
UPPER PETAL: obtriangular, entire margin, margin of upper side is dark pink red (darker than RHS 52A) with purple red (RHS N57B) tones, middle of upper side is dark pink red (darker than RHS 52A) with purple red (RHS N57B) tones, lower side is dark pink red (RHS 52A), marking is stripes only, medium conspicuousness of marking, small red pink zone at base
LOWER PETAL: margin of upper side is dark pink red (redder than RHS 52A), middle of upper side is purple red (closest to RHS N57A-B), lower side is dark pink red (RHS 52A), marking is stripes only, absent or very weak conspicuousness of marking, no zone at base

Origin & Breeding History: 'PEQZ0003' 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 rose coloured flowers designated '10521-2' as the female parent, and a proprietary line with blush rose coloured flowers designated '105201' as the male parent. This cross was conducted in Gilroy, California, United States in February 2007. The resultant seed was collected and sown in a greenhouse in Gilroy in August 2007. In December 2007, a single plant was selected using flower colour, and plant habit as the selection criteria. This selection was named 'PEQZ0003'.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'PEQZ0003' 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 'PEQZ0003' with reference variety 'Cante Ros'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Length of peduncle (cm)

Colour of lower petal (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Pelargonium: 'PEQZ0003' (left) with reference variety 'Cante Ros' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Pelargonium: 'PEQZ0003' (left) with reference variety 'Cante Ros' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Pelargonium: 'PEQZ0003' (left) with reference variety 'Cante Ros' (right)