NPCW08135

Poinsettia

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Fismille' (Orion Red) and 'NPCW02044' (Christmas Feelings Red)

Summary: The stems of 'NPCW08135' have absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration on the middle third while the stems of 'NPCW02044' have weak anthocyanin. The leaf blade of 'NPCW08135' is deltoid and ovate in shape while the leaf blades of the reference varieties are ovate. The leaf blade of 'NPCW08135' is narrower than the leaf blades of the reference varieties. 'NPCW08135' has many large coloured bracts while 'NPCW02044' has a medium number of large coloured bracts. The upper side of the bract of 'NPCW08135' is a slightly lighter red colour than the bracts of the reference varieties. The lower side of the bract is red to dark pink red for 'NPCW08135' while it is red for 'Fismille' and dark pink red for 'NPCW02044'.

Description:

PLANT: branching present
STEM: medium green at middle third, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration at middle third, absent or weak anthocyanin on upper third

LEAF: deltoid and ovate, truncate base, dark green on upper side, main vein green on upper side, none or few lobes, lobes shallow when present, absent or weak curvature of main vein
PETIOLE: very weak intensity of green colour on upper side, medium to strong anthocyanin colouration on upper side, medium anthocyanin on lower side
TRANSITIONAL LEAVES: very few partly bract coloured leaves, few fully bract coloured leaves, absent or weak lobing, absent or weak curvature along main vein

BRACT: many large coloured bracts, medium number of small coloured bracts, largest bract ovate, one colour on upper side, red (RHS 45B) on upper side, absent or very weak spotting on upper side, lower side red to dark pink red (RHS 46C-D), no folding along main vein, no twisting, weak to medium rugosity between veins
CYATHIUM GLANDS: yellow and orange, no deformation present, response time 7.5 weeks.

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'NPCW08135' originated from a pollination made in Stuttgart, Germany. The female parent was a proprietary seedling designated P 7851 and the male parent was a proprietary seedling designated P 639. Seedlings were selected from the cross in 2005 for criteria based on bract size, bract colour, bract shape, leaf quality and branching characteristics. One of these seedlings was designated 'NPCW08135' and was further evaluated in 2006 for bract shape, leaf colour, plant vigour and postharvest characteristics.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'NPCW08135' were conducted in a greenhouse in St. Catharines, Ontario . The trial included a total of 25 plants each of the candidate variety and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 15 cm pots on August 10, 2010. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety on December 1, 2010. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'NPCW08135' with reference varieties 'Fismille' and 'NPCW02044'

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of bract (RHS)

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Poinsettia: 'NPCW08135' (left) with reference varieties 'Fismille' (centre) and 'NPCW02044' (right)

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Poinsettia: 'NPCW08135' (left) with reference varieties 'Fismille' (centre) and 'NPCW02044' (right)

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Poinsettia: 'NPCW08135' (left) with reference varieties 'Fismille' (centre) and 'NPCW02044' (right)