Chrysanthemum plant named El Paso

A Chrysanthemum plant named El Paso particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; light bronze flower color; diameter across face of capitulum of 89 to 114 mm when fully opened, when grown as a pinched disbudded pot mum; photoperiodic flowering response to short days of 52 to 59 days; plant height, with 15 to 16 long days after sticking unrooted cuttings, and with 1 to 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, ranges from 23 to 28 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot; branching pattern is spreading, each plant having 3 to 5 laterals after pinch; and recommended as disbud pot mum.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of 
Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, and referred 
to by the cultivar name El Paso. 
El Paso, identified as 5937 (90-747002), was originated from a cross made 
by Cornelis P. VandenBerg in a controlled breeding program in Salinas, 
Calif., in 1990. 
The female parent of El Paso was the cultivar identified as Envy, disclosed 
in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,986. 
The male parent of El Paso was an unnamed seedling identified as 5047 
(87-62202), and described as a decorative disbud pot mum with many disc 
florets; a golden-yellow ray floret color; a flowering response to short 
days of 51 to 58 days under normal conditions in Salinas, Calif.; a plant 
height of 18 to 23 cm with 15 to 16 long days after sticking unrooted 
cuttings prior to start of short days and 1 to 2 applications of 2500 ppm 
B-9 SP when grown as a pinched pot mum; branching habit of 3 to 5 laterals 
developing after pinch; and diameter of capitulum of 114 to 127 mm. The 
male parent was discarded from all programs on Mar. 4, 1991. 
El Paso was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the 
progeny of the stated cross by Cornelis P. VandenBerg in December 1990, in 
a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. 
The first act of asexual reproduction of El Paso was accomplished when 
vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in March 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 El Paso are firmly fixed and are retained through successive 
generations of asexual reproduction. 
El Paso has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. 
The phenotype may vary significatnly 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., under greenhouse conditions which approximate 
those generally used in commercial greenhouse practice. 
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be 
basic characteristics of El Paso, which, in combination, distinguish this 
Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar: 
1. Flat capitulum form. 
2. Decorative capitulum type. 
3. Light bronze flower color. 
4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 89 to 114 mm when fully opened, 
when grown as a pinched disbudded pot mum. 
5. Photoperiodic flowering response to short days of 52 to 59 days. 
6. Plant height with 15 to 16 long days after sticking unrooted cuttings, 
and with 1 to 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, ranges from 23 to 28 cm 
when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot. 
7. Branching pattern is spreading, each plant having 3 to 5 laterals after 
pinch. 
8. Recommended as disbud pot mum.

Of the commercial cultivars know to the inventor, the most similar in 
comparison to El Paso is the cultivar identified as Dark Bronze Charm, 
disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,801. Reference is made to attached 
Chart A, which compares certain characteristics of El Paso to the same 
characteristics of Dark Bronze Charm. 
Similar traits are capitulum form and type, diameter across face of 
capitulum, plant height and spreading branching pattern. El Paso has a 
lighter ray floret color than Dark Bronze Charm, and is 2 to 4 days slower 
in flowering response to short days than Dark Bronze Charm. In several 
flowering trails El Paso had one less lateral after pinch when compared 
with Dark Bronze Charm. 
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 pinched disbudded pot mum in Salinas, Calif. on 
Oct. 26, 1992. 
Classification: 
Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv. El Paso. 
Commercial.--Decorative disbud pot mum. 
INFLORESCENCE 
A. Capitulum: 
Form.--Flat. 
Type.--Decorative. 
Diameter across face.--89 to 114 mm when fully opened. 
B. Corolla of ray florets: 
Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Light bronze 
Color (upper surface).--Closest to 22B to 22C. 
color (under surface).--Closest to 22D. 
Shape.--Straight, ribbed, some spoons in outer rows of ray florets. 
C. Corolla of disc florets: 
Color (mature).--7B. 
Color (immature).--144A 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.--23 to 28 cm when grown as a pinched pot in a 15 cm pot with 15 to 
16 long days after direct sticking of unrooted cuttings and 1 to 2 
applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP. 
Branching pattern.--Spreading, with 3 to 5 laterals after pinch. 
B. Foliage: 
Color (upper surface).--147A. 
Color (under surface).--147B. 
Shape.--See photograph. 
CHART A 
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COMISON OF EL PASO AND 
DARK BRONZE CHARM 
DARK 
CHARACTERISTICS 
EL PASO BRONZE CHARM 
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Ray floret color 
Light bronze 
Orange bronze 
Capitulum form and type 
Flat decorative 
Flat decorative 
Diameter across face of 
89 to 114 mm 
95 to 114 mm 
capitulum 
Flowering response 
52 to 59 days 
50 to 55 days 
Plant height with 15 to 16 
23 to 28 cm 23 to 28 cm 
long days 
Branching pattern 
Spreading Spreading 
3 to 5 laterals 
4 to 5 laterals 
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COMISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS 
PINCHED DISBUDDED POT MUMS IN 
SALINAS, CALIFORNIA 
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