Balsundarco

Petunia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Balsuncora' (Suncatcher Coral Prism)

Summary: 'Balsundarco' is a petunia variety which differs from the reference variety 'Balsuncora' in flower colour. The upper and lower sides of the corolla of 'Balsundarco' are a darker red colour than 'Balsuncora'. 'Balsundarco' has more prominent veining along the inner side of the corolla tube and the veins are brownish, whereas 'Balsuncora' has less prominent, yellow green veins.

Description:

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

SHOOT: medium to thick, short, absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: long, medium width, ovate to elliptic, narrow acute apex, no variegation, medium green upper side, no blistering, petiole short to medium length

SEPAL: long, narrow, linear, no anthocyanin colouration

FLOWER: long pedicel, single, medium to wide diameter, funnelform
COROLLA: moderate lobing, upper side main colour dark purple red with red around veins, white secondary colour at transition to corolla tube, lower side red pink, veins red and weakly conspicuous, very weak undulation of margin
COROLLA TUBE: long to very long, light yellow on inner side, veins strongly conspicuous
ANTHER: yellowish white before and after pollen dehiscence

Origin & Breeding History: 'Balsundarco' originated from a cross conducted during February, 2004, at Arroyo Grande, California, as part of a controlled breeding program. The female parent was the proprietary petunia breeding selection designated 1694-1, characterized by its scarlet red flower colour, dark green leaf and trailing growth habit. The male parent of 'Balsundarco' was the proprietary petunia breeding selection designated SA2091-1, characterized by its medium coral flower colour, medium green leaf and trailing growth habit. The initial selection was made on October 26, 2004. Asexual propagation since that time has been through the use of vegetative cuttings. 'Balsundarco' was selected for its mounded, trailing, growth habit.

Tests & Trials: The trials for 'Balsundarco' were conducted during the spring of 2007, in a polyhouse in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trials consisted of a total of 15 plants of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings planted into 15cm pots on April 24, 2007. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on June 5, 2007. All colour measurements were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour chart.

Comparison tables for 'Balsundarco' with reference variety 'Balsuncora'

Main colour of corolla lobe (RHS)

Colour of veins on corolla lobe

Colour of veins in corolla tube (RHS)

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Petunia: 'Balsundarco' (left) with reference variety 'Balsuncora' (right)

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Petunia: 'Balsundarco' (left) with reference variety 'Balsuncora' (right)