Chrysanthemum plant named `Sonata`

A Chrysanthemum plant named Sonata particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; creamy white ray floret color with a cream center of the flower; diameter across face of capitulum of 70 to 76 mm when fully opened, when grown as a single stem spray cut mum; flowering response in Salinas under normal temperatures is 52 to 57 days after start of short days; flowering response in Bogota, Colombia is 61 to 69 days; plant height is 89 to 107 cm when grown in Salinas with 11 long days prior to start of short days; plant height is 97 to 114 cm when grown in Bogota with 14 to 15 long days prior to start of short days; peduncle length of the first lateral at flowering after removing the apical bud is 8 to 10 cm when grown in Salinas, and 10 to 13 cm when grown in Bogota; peducle length of the fourth lateral at flowering is 10 to 15 cm when grown in Salinas, and 15 to 18 cm when grown in Bogota; excellent tolerance to low night temperatures for bud initiation and flower development; and recommended as a spray cut mum.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of 
Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, and referred 
to by the cultivar name Sonata. 
Sonata, identified as 1221 (90-005002), was originated from a cross made by 
Cornelis P. VandenBerg in a controlled breeding program in Salinas, Calif. 
in 1989. 
The female parent of Sonata was an unnamed seedling, identified as 1135 
(85-248002) and described as a white decorative spray cut mum. The female 
parent was discarded from all programs in August of 1990. 
The male parent of Sonata was an unnamed seedling, identified as 1359 
(85-271002) and described as white decorative spray cut mum with many disc 
florets. 
Sonata was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the 
progeny of the stated cross by Cornelis P. VandenBerg in April 1991, in a 
controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. 
The first act of asexual reproduction of Sonata was accomplished when 
vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in June 1991 in 
a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by technicians working under 
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 Sonata are firmly fixed and are retained through successive 
generations of asexual reproduction. 
Sonata 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, without, however, any 
variance in genotype. 
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 night temperature tolerance was determined in repeated 
flowerings in Bogota, Colombia, with an average minimum low night 
temperature inside the greenhouse during our trials ranging as low as 5 to 
8 degrees Celsius. 
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be 
basic characteristics of Sonata, which, in combination, distinguish this 
Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar: 
1. Flat capitulum form. 
2. Decorative capitulum type. 
3. Creamy white ray floret color with a cream center of the flower. 
4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 70 to 76 mm when fully opened, when 
grown as a single stem spray cut mum. 
5 Flowering response in Salinas under normal temperatures is 52 to 57 days 
after start of short days. Flowering response in Bogota, Colombia is 61 to 
69 days. 
6. Plant height is 89 to 107 cm when grown in Salinas with 11 long days 
prior to start of short days; plant height is 97 to 114 cm when grown in 
Bogota with 14 to 15 long days prior to start of short days. 
7. Peduncle length of the first lateral at flowering after removing the 
apical bud is 8 to 10 cm when grown in Salinas, and 10 to 13 cm when grown 
in Bogota, Peduncle length of the fourth lateral at flowering is 10 to 15 
cm when grown in Salinas, and 15 to 18 cm when grown in Bogota. 
8. Excellent tolerance to low night temperatures for bud initiation and 
flower development. 
9. Recommended as a spry cut mum.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in 
comparison to Sonata is the cultivar identified as Polaris, an unpatented 
but commercial cultivar. Reference is made to attached Chart A, which 
compares certain characteristics of Sonata with the same characteristics 
of Polaris. Similar traits are ray floret color and capitulum form and 
type. Sonata has a more pronounced cream center of the flower than 
Polaris. Sonata has a smaller diameter of capitulum, a slower flowering 
response to short days in Salinas, a faster flowering response to short 
days in Bogota, a shorter plant height and shorter peduncles when compared 
with Polaris. 
In the following description color references are made to The Royal 
Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined on 
plant material grown as a single stem spray cut mum in Salinas, Calif. on 
Jul. 3, 1995. 
Classification: 
Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Sonata. 
Commercial.--Flat decorative spray cut mum. 
INFLORESCENCE 
A. Capitulum: 
Form.--Flat. 
Type.--Decorative. 
Diameter across face.--70 to 76 mm when fully opened. 
B. Corolla of ray florets: 
Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Creamy white 
with cream center of the flower. 
Color (upper surface).--155A, center of flower 8C. 
Color (under surface).--155A. 
Shape.--Straight, cross section concave rounded petal tip. 
C. Corolla of disc florets: 
Color (mature).--Closest to 15A. 
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.--89 to 107 cm when grown in Salinas with 11 long days prior to 
start of short days; 97 to 114 cm when grown in Bogota with 14 to 15 long 
days prior to start of short days. 
B. Foliage: 
Color (upper surface).--147A. 
Color (under surface).--147B 
Shape.--Deeply lobed, serrated. 
CHART A 
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COMISON OF SONATA AND POLARIS 
CHARACTERISTIC SONATA POLARIS 
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Ray floret color 
Creamy white Creamy white 
Capitulum form Flat Flat 
Capitulum type Decorative Decorative 
Diameter across face 
70 to 76 mm 76 to 83 mm 
of capitulum 
Flowering response 
in Salinas 52 to 57 days 
51 to 53 days 
in Bogota 61 to 69 days 
69 to 73 days 
Plant height with 
6-11 long days Salinas 
89 to 107 cm 94 to 104 cm 
14-15 long days Bogota 
97 to 114 cm 107 to 127 cm 
Peduncle length 
1st lateral, Salinas 
8 to 10 cm 10 to 14 cm 
4th lateral Salinas 
10 to 15 cm 18 to 20 cm 
1st lateral, Bogota 
10 to 13 cm 15 to 18 cm 
4th lateral, Bogota 
15 to 18 cm 20 to 23 cm 
COMISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS SINGLE 
STEM SPRAY CUT MUMS IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA 
AND IN BOGOTA, COLUMBIA 
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