Chrysanthemum plant named Pasion

A Chrysanthemum plant named Pasion particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; light red-purple ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 63 to 70 mm when fully opened; photoperiodic flowering response to short days of 50 to 58 days when grown in Salinas, Calif., and 64 to 70 days when grown in Bogota, Colombia; peduncle length of the first lateral of 5 to 10 cm, and of the fourth lateral of 10 to 18 cm, when grown without growth regulator applications, on open, terminal sprays; plant height of 102 to 107 cm when grown as a single stem spray cut mum in Salinas, Calif. with 14 long days prior to start of short days, compared to a height of 122 to 125 cm when grown in Bogota, Colombia with 20 to 21 long days prior to start of short days; and excellent tolerance to low night temperatures for bud initiation and flower development.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of 
Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, and referred 
to by the cultivar name Pasion. 
Pasion, identified as 85-251001, was originated by the inventor Cornelis P. 
VandenBerg from a cross made in a controlled breeding program in Salinas, 
Calif., in 1984. 
The female parent of Pasion was an unnamed seedling identified as 
81-772006, a yellow decorative cut spray mum. The male parent of Pasion 
was also an unnamed seedling identified as 78-*38002, a pink decorative 
cut spray mum. 
Pasion was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the 
progeny of the stated cross by Cornelis P. VandenBerg in March 1986, in a 
controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. 
The first act of asexual reproduction of Pasion was accomplished when 
vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in May 1986 in a 
controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by technicians working under 
the supervision of Cornelis P. VandenBerg. 
Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successive plantings 
has shown that the unique combination of characteristics as herein 
disclosed for Pasion are firmly fixed and are retained through successive 
generations of asexual reproduction. 
Pasion has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. 
The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such 
as temperature, light intensity and daylength. For example, plant height 
will increase with an increased number of long days after planting prior 
to start of short days. Under low night temperatures (10 degrees Celsius 
and lower) flowering can be expected to be delayed. Under high 
temperatures (25 degrees Celsius night and 35 degrees Celsius day) 
flowering can be expected to be delayed and be more uneven than under 
normal temperatures. Normal temperatures can be described as 15 degrees 
Celsius minimum night and 25 degrees Celsius maximum day. 
The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants 
grown in Salinas, Calif. and in Bogota, Colombia, under greenhouse 
conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial greenhouse 
practice. The low temperature tolerance was determined in repeated 
flowerings in Bogota, Colombia. 
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be 
basic characteristics of Pasion, which, in combination, distinguish this 
chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar: 
1. Flat capitulum form. 
2. Decorative capitulum type. 
3. Light red-purple ray floret color, with the center of the flowers being 
darker. 
4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 63 to 70 mm when fully opened. 
5. Flowering response in Salinas under normal temperatures is 50 to 58 days 
after start of short days. Flowering response in Bogota, Colombia under 
minimum 7 degrees Celsius night and maximum 29 degrees Celsius day is 64 
to 70 days after start of short days. 
6. Peduncle length of the first lateral at flowering after removing the 
apical bud without growth regulator applications is 5 to 10 cm when grown 
in Salinas, Calif., and 5 cm when grown in Bogota, Colombia. Peduncle 
length of the fourth lateral at flowering is 10 to 18 cm when grown in 
Salinas, and 10 to 13 cm when grown in Bogota. 
7. Plant height of 102 to 107 cm when grown in Salinas as a single stem cut 
mum with 14 long days prior to start of short days; when grown in Bogota 
with 20 to 21 long days prior to start of short days height is 122 to 125 
cm. 
8. Excellent tolerance to low night temperatures for bud initiation and 
flower development. Average minimum low night temperatures in our Bogota 
trials ranged from 7 to 8.5 degrees Celsius. 
The above measurements represent repeated flowerings over a period of a 
minimum of two years.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in 
comparison to Pasion is the cultivar Hada, a red-purple spray cut mum 
disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,887. Reference is made to attached 
Chart A which compares certain characteristics of Pasion to the same 
characteristics of Hada. 
Similar traits are capitulum form and type, spray formation, diameter 
across face of capitulum and low night temperature tolerance. Flowering 
response of Pasion has been generally similar to the response of Hada in 
Salinas trials, but has been slightly slower than the response of Hada in 
Bogota trials. Pasion has a unique two-tone flower color compared to the 
uniform single color of Hada. In general, the peduncle length of Pasion is 
shorter than the peduncle length of Hada. Since Pasion is normally grown 
with 7 more long days prior to short days than Hada, the plant height of 
both cultivars is not directly comparable. 
In the following description color references are made to The Royal 
Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined on 
plant material grown in Salinas, Calif. on July 17, 1989. 
Classification: 
Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Pasion. 
Commercial.--Decorative cut spray mum. 
INFLORESCENCE 
A. Capitulum: 
Form.--Flat. 
Type.--Decorative. 
Diameter across face.--63 to 70 mm when fully opened. 
B. Corolla of ray florets: 
Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Light 
red-purple, with a darker flower center. 
Color (upper surface).--Outer petals 69A to 69B. Center of flower 
significantly darker, giving a two-tone effect. Center closest to 70C to 
70D. 
Color (under surface).--69A to 69B. 
Shape.--Straight, oblong, slightly ribbed. 
C. Corolla of disc florets: 
Color (mature).--Closest to 12A. 
Color (immature).--Closest to 144B. 
D. Reproductive organs: 
Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; no pollen. 
Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets. 
PLANT 
A. General appearance: 
Height.--102 to 107 cm when grown as a single stem cut mum with 14 long 
days prior to start of short days in Salinas, Calif.; 122 to 125 cm when 
grown as a single stem cut mum with 20 to 21 long days prior to start of 
short days in Bogota, Colombia. 
B. Foliage: 
Color (upper surface).--147A. 
Color (under surface).--147B. 
Shape.--See photograph. 
CHART A 
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COMISON OF PASION AND HADA 
CHARACTERISTIC PASION HADA 
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Ray floret color 
Light red-purple 
Red-purple 
with darker center 
Capitulum form Flat Flat 
Capitulum type Decorative Decorative 
Spray formation 
Terminal Terminal 
Peduncle length 
1st lateral, Salinas 
5 to 10 cm 8 to 10 cm 
4th lateral, Salinas 
10 to 18 cm 13 to 15 cm 
1st lateral, Bogota 
5 cm 8 to 13 cm 
4th lateral, Bogota 
10 to 13 cm 15 to 18 cm 
Diameter across face 
63 to 70 mm 63 to 70 mm 
of capitulum 
Flowering response period 
in Salinas 50 to 58 days 54 to 57 days 
in Bogota 64 to 70 days 62 to 67 days 
Low night temperature 
Excellent Excellent 
tolerance 
COMISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS 
SINGLE STEM SPRAY CUT MUMS IN SALINAS, 
CALIFORNIA, AND IN BOGOTA, COLOMBIA 
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