USTUNI7502

Petunia

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Whip Ablos' (Whispers Appleblossom) and 'Keipamipihas' (Surfinia Patio Misty Pink)

Summary: 'USTUNI7502' has a less upright growth habit than 'Keipamipihas'. 'USTUNI7502' has a longer shoot and petiole than 'Keipamipihas'. 'USTUNI7502' has a larger flower diameter and stronger lobing of the corolla than 'Keipamipihas'. 'USTUNI7502' has stronger undulation of the corolla margin and differs in flower colour from the reference varieties.

Description:

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

SHOOTS: thin to medium thickness, medium to long, absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration

LEAVES: medium to long, medium to wide, ovate to elliptic, broad acute to rounded apex, no variegation, medium to dark green on upper side, blistering present, petiole medium to long

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

FLOWERS: medium length pedicel, single corolla, small to medium diameter, trumpet shape
COROLLA: moderate to strong lobing, white with light blue violet at margin on upper side, light blue violet on lower side, veins yellow green and very weakly conspicuous, margin with strong undulation
COROLLA TUBE: medium length, white on inner side, veins very weakly conspicuous
ANTHERS: cream before and after pollen dehiscence.

Origin & Breeding History: 'USTUNI7502' 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 'USTUNI7502' 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 'USTUNI7502' with reference varieties 'Whip Ablos' and 'Keipamipihas'

Shoot length (cm)

Petiole length (mm)

Corolla diameter (cm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Secondary colour on corolla (RHS)

Corolla tube length (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Petunia: 'USTUNI7502' (left) with reference varieties 'Whip Ablos' (centre) and 'Keipamipihas' (right)