Kirimaji Double Purple

Petunia

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Adventurer' and 'Balrufimpu'

Summary: 'Kirimaji Double Purple' has a shorter plant height than 'Balrufimpu'. The petiole length of 'Kirimaji Double Purple' is longer than'Adventurer' but shorter than 'Balrufimpu'. 'Kirimaji Double Purple' has larger sepals than 'Adventurer'. The pedicel of 'Kirimaji Double Purple' is shorter than in 'Balrufimpu'. 'Kirmaji Double Purple' has an outer corolla tube colour that is violet while it is predominantly white to yellow green for the reference varieties. The anther colour for 'Kirimaji Double Purple' is blue while it is cream coloured for 'Balrufimpu'. 'Kirimaji Double Purple' has a slightly darker purple flower colour than 'Balrufimpu'.

Description:

'Kirimaji Double Purple' is a double petunia variety which has both a semi-erect to drooping growth habit, with short plant height. The shoots are medium in thickness with no anthocyanin colouration. The shape of the leaf is ovate with a broad obtuse shaped apex. The upper side of the leaf blade is medium green in colour with blistering present and no variegation. There is a petiole present.

The sepals of 'Kirimaji Double Purple' are linear in shape with no anthocyanin present. The pedicel is very short in length, and thin to medium in width. The overall flower shape is funnelform. The margin of the corolla has medium to strong undulation. 'Kirimaji Double Purple' produces purple coloured flowers. The prominence of the veins on the inner side of the corolla lobe is very weak to weak. The corolla tube is short in length, and medium in width. The corolla tube is a violet colour on the inner side. The anthers are a blue colour.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Kirimaji Double Purple' is the product of a controlled breeding program in Tochigi, Japan during 1998. The female parent was an unnamed internal breeding seed line of Petunia hybrida, while the male parent was petunia 'Double Cascade Burgundy'. Initial selection was made in 1999.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Kirimaji Double Purple' were conducted in a polyhouse at BioFlora Inc., St. Thomas, Ontario during the fall of 2002. The trials included 15 plants of each variety. Rooted cuttings were transplanted into 10 cm pots on August 16, 2002. All colour measurements were made using RHS colour chart 2001. Unless otherwise indicated measured characteristics were based on ten measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Kirimaji Double Purple' with reference varieties 'Adventurer' and 'Balrufimpu'

Petiole length (mm)

Sepal length (mm)

Sepal width (mm)

Pedicel length (cm)

Colour of corolla lobe on (RHS)

Colour of corolla tube (RHS)