USTUNI7501

Petunia

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Dancasoft' (Cascadias Soft Pink) and 'Whip Ablos' (Whispers Appleblossom)

Summary: 'USTUNI7501' differs from the reference varieties in the colour of the upper and lower side of the corolla. 'USTUNI7501' has no secondary colour while 'Whip Ablos' has secondary colour present. 'USTUNI7501' has less conspicuous veins on the inner side of the corolla tube than 'Dancasoft'. 'USTUNI7501' has a shorter corolla tube than 'Dancasoft'.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright to creeping growth habit, short to medium height, medium to wide

SHOOTS: thin, short to medium length, absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration

LEAVES: medium length and width, ovate, broad acute to rounded apex, no variegation, medium to dark green on upper side, blistering present, petiole medium in length

SEPALS: short to medium length, narrow to medium width, linear, no anthocyanin colouration

FLOWERS: short to medium length pedicel, single corolla, small to medium diameter, salverform shape
COROLLA: moderate lobing, light blue pink on upper side, violet on lower side, veins red purple and weakly conspicuous, margin with weak undulation
COROLLA TUBE: short to medium length, white on inner side, veins very weakly conspicuous
ANTHERS: yellowish white before and after pollen dehiscence.

Origin & Breeding History: 'USTUNI7501' originated from a controlled cross between a seed raised variety with small lavender flowers as the female parent and a wild Petunia species as the male parent. The cross was made by the breeder, Ushio Sakazaki, in Shiga, Japan on April 26, 2001. The seed from the cross was collected and sent to Gensingen, Germany for further breeding and selection. The new petunia was selected as a single plant from the resultant progeny on June 18, 2002, in Gensingen, Germany. Selection was based on improved branching characteristics and growth habit.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for 'USTUNI7501' were conducted in a polyhouse at BioFlora in St. Thomas, Ontario in the spring of 2006. The trials included 15 plants of each variety. Rooted cuttings were transplanted into six inch pots on April 17, 2006. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'USTUNI7501' with reference varieties 'Dancasoft' and 'Whip Ablos'

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Secondary colour on corolla (RHS)

Corolla tube length (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Petunia: 'USTUNI7501' (left) with reference varieties 'Dancasoft' (centre) and 'Whip Ablos' (right)