MP221

Petunia

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'MP21' (Tiny Tunia White) and 'MP20' (Tiny Tunia Violet Ice)

Summary: 'MP221' is a petunia variety which has two colours on the upper side of the corolla lobe. The main colour is white and the secondary colour is light blue-violet which is distributed around the margins of the corolla lobes. In contrast, the reference varieties each have only one colour on the upper side of the corolla. The veins of 'MP221' are purple and weakly conspicuous whereas the veins of 'MP20' are yellowish green and very strongly conspicuous. The inner side of the corolla tube of 'MP221' is dark violet, compared with 'MP21' which has a yellow green tube and 'MP20' which has a dark purple tube.

Description:

PLANT: creeping growth habit
SHOOT: medium thickness, short to medium length, no anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: elliptic to circular shape, broad acute apex, no variegation, medium to dark green on upper side, blistering absent

SEPAL: linear to obovate shape, no anthocyanin
FLOWER: single, funnel form
COROLLA LOBE: two colours on upper side, white main colour with light blue violet at margins, weakly conspicuous purple veins, medium undulation of margin
COROLLA TUBE: dark violet to blue violet on inner side, moderately conspicuous veins
ANTHER: light grey to violet before dehiscence

Origin & Breeding History: 'MP221' was developed from a Petunia × hybrida breeding program located at the University of Sydney Plant Breeding Institute Cobbitty (PBIC), in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. This vegetative breeding program is aimed at producing compact but spreading, small flowered petunia varieties. The parents 'X01.169.1' (female) and 'X00.155.1' (male) were crossed in December 2001. These parents were crossbreeds from the proprietary program. The new variety was selected from the F1 seedling population in October 2002 and was tested for uniformity and stability in tissue culture propagation. The initial selection criteria were for flower colour, early flowering and habit.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'MP221' were conducted in a polyhouse at Oxford Station, Ontario during the summer of 2006. The trials consisted of 15 plants of each variety, planted in 15 cm pots and spaced at approximately 30 cm apart on the bench. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety. Colour determinations were done using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'MP221' with reference varieties 'MP21' and 'MP20'

Colour of upper side of corolla lobe (RHS)

Colour of corolla tube (RHS)

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Petunia: 'MP221' (left) with reference variety 'MP20' (right)

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Petunia: 'MP221' (left) with reference variety 'MP21' (right)