Sunrove

Petunia

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'USTUNI207' and 'Revolution Pinkmini'

Summary: 'Sunrove' is a petunia variety which has ovate shaped leaves with a narrowly acute apex whereas the reference variety 'USTUNI207' has obovate and spatulate leaves and 'Revolution Pinkmini' has elliptic and spatulate leaves. Both references have an obtuse apex. 'Sunrove' has anthocyanin colouration on the sepal, while the references do not. The corolla of 'Sunrove' is most similar to 'USTUNI207', however, the main colour is slightly different and the candidate variety has more strongly conspicuous veining than the reference. 'Revolution Pinkmini' does not have conspicuous veining on the upper side of the corolla.

Description:

'Sunrove' is a petunia variety which has a semi-upright to creeping growth habit. The plants are medium in height, and have very thin shoots with very weak anthocyanin colouration. The leaf blade of 'Sunrove' is dark green and ovate in shape, with no variegation or blistering. The sepals are linear and have anthocyanin colouration.

'Sunrove' has single, light blue-pink flowers which are funnel form in shape. The lobing of the corolla is weak to moderate. The upper side of the corolla has one colour, with very strongly conspicuous, red-purple veins. The margins of the corolla lobes are weakly undulating. The corolla tube is purple-violet with strongly conspicuous veins. Before pollen dehiscence the anthers are light blue.'Sunrove' is a petunia variety which has a semi-upright to creeping growth habit. The plants are medium in height, and have very thin shoots with very weak anthocyanin colouration. The leaf blade of 'Sunrove' is dark green and ovate in shape, with no variegation or blistering. The sepals are linear and have anthocyanin colouration.

'Sunrove' has single, light blue-pink flowers which are funnel form in shape. The lobing of the corolla is weak to moderate. The upper side of the corolla has one colour, with very strongly conspicuous, red-purple veins. The margins of the corolla lobes are weakly undulating. The corolla tube is purple-violet with strongly conspicuous veins. Before pollen dehiscence the anthers are light blue.

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Sunrove' originated from the crossing of a plant called '6Pt-160-1' (female) and a wild type of petunia called '1972' (male) in April 1997. In January 1998, 120 seedlings were obtained from that crossing. These seedlings were grown in pots and tested and 2 seedlings were selected. One of the seedlings was selected for its decumbent growth habit and light purplish pink flowers with a vivid reddish purple vein pattern. This seedling was propagated by cuttings and was determined to be distinguishable from all other varieties. The new variety was named 'Sunrove'.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Sunrove' were conducted in a polyhouse during the spring and summer of 2005 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trials included a total of 15 plants of each variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings, planted into 15 cm pots on April 29, 2005. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on June 13, 2005. All colour measurements were made using the RHS Colour Chart 2001.

Comparison tables for 'Sunrove' with reference varieties 'USTUNI207' and 'Revolution Pinkmini'

Length of shoot (cm)

Length of petiole (mm)

Main colour of corolla (RHS)