USTUN60501

Petunia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Keipabukas' (Surfinia Patio Blue)

Summary: The plants of 'USTUN60501' have a spreading growth habit while those of 'Keipabukas' have an upright growth habit. The lower third of the shoots of 'USTUN60501' are thin while they are of medium thickness for 'Keipabukas'. The sepal of 'USTUN60501' is narrower than that of 'Keipabukas'. The corolla of 'USTUN60501' is narrower than the corolla of 'Keipabukas'. The degree of undulation on the corolla of 'USTUN60501' is weak while it is medium for 'Keipabukas'. The main colour of the inner side of the corolla tube is violet with dark violet veins for 'USTUN60501' while it is grey to white with brown purple to dark violet veins for 'Keipabukas'. Before dehiscence, the anther of 'USTUN60501' is light blue while it is yellowish white for 'Keipabukas'.

Description:

PLANT: spreading growth habit
SHOOT: thin on lower third

LEAF BLADE: ovate shape, narrow acute apex, no variegation, medium green on upper side, absent or weak blistering

PEDICEL: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER: single type, funnelform shape
COROLLA: medium to strong degree of lobing, absent or very shallow incisions of margin, weak degree of undulation, absent or very weak conspicuousness of veins, purple veins, when newly opened inner side is mainly violet (RHS N81A) with dark violet (RHS N79A) veins, when fully opened inner side is mainly violet (RHS N82A), when aged inner side is mainly blue violet (RHS N82C-D)
COROLLA LOBE: cuspidate apex
COROLLA TUBE (INNER SIDE): violet (RHS N81C-D) with dark violet (RHS N79A) veins, weak to medium conspicuousness of veins
COROLLA TUBE (OUTER SIDE): violet to blue violet (RHS N82A-B) with dark violet (RHS N79A) veins
ANTHER: light blue before dehiscence

Origin & Breeding History: 'USTUN60501' originated from a controlled cross conducted by the breeder, Ushio Sakazaki, in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan on May 6, 2011. The cross was made between the female parent 'Surfinia Cutie Blue' and the proprietary male parent seedling designated '11PJ03'. The new plant was selected from the resulting progeny on May 24, 2012 in Bonsall, California, USA. 'USTUN60501' was selected based on its plant growth habit, branching qualities, young plant performance and floriforousness. This variety was first propagated by vegetative tip cuttings on May 26, 2012 in Bonsall, California, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'USTUN60501' was conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2015 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 20 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and each one transplanted into a 15 cm pot on April 13, 2015. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety on May 21, 2015. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'USTUN60501' with reference variety 'Keipabukas'

Sepal width (cm)

Flower width (cm)

Colour of corolla tube (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Petunia: 'USTUN60501' (left) with reference variety 'Keipabukas' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Petunia: 'USTUN60501' (left) with reference variety 'Keipabukas' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Petunia: 'USTUN60501' (left) with reference variety 'Keipabukas' (right)