Petunia plant named ‘USTUN53402’

A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘USTUN53402’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading to trailing plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; pink-colored flowers with dark red purple-colored venation; and good garden performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPetuniaplant, botanically known asPetunia×hybridaand hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USTUN53402’.

The newPetuniaplant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and uniformly moundingPetuniaplants with early and freely flowering habit, unique attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The newPetuniaplant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 10, 2010 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection ofPetunia×hybridaidentified as code number P435-03, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent withPetunia×hybrida‘Pixie Blue Veined’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newPetuniaplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 13, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the newPetuniaplant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since May 16, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this newPetuniaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USTUN53402’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USTUN53402’ as a new and distinctPetuniaplant:1. Upright and outwardly spreading to trailing plant habit.2. Freely branching habit.3. Vigorous growth habit.4. Early and freely flowering habit.5. Pink-colored flowers with dark red purple-colored venation.6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the newPetuniacan be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the newPetuniadiffer primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newPetuniaare more mounding than and not as creeping as plants of the female parent selection.2. Plants of the newPetuniaflower earlier than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the newPetuniacan be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Pixie Blue Veined’. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the newPetuniadiffer primarily from plants of ‘Pixie Blue Veined’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newPetuniahave larger flowers than plants of ‘Pixie Blue Veined’.2. Plants of the newPetuniaand ‘Pixie Blue Veined’ differ in flower color as plants of ‘Pixie Blue Veined’ have blue-colored petal venation.

Plants of the newPetuniacan be compared to plants of ‘Constraw’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,539. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the newPetuniadiffered primarily from plants of ‘Constraw’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newPetuniawere more mounding than and not as creeping as plants of ‘Constraw’.2. Plants of the newPetuniaflowered earlier than plants of ‘Constraw’.

Plants of the newPetuniacan also be compared to plants of ‘Shock Wave Pink Vein’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newPetuniadiffered primarily from plants of ‘Shock Wave Pink Vein’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newPetuniawere more compact and mounded than and not as spreading as plants of ‘Shock Wave Pink Vein’.2. Plants of the newPetuniaand ‘Shock Wave Pink Vein’ differed in flower color as plants of ‘Shock Wave Pink Vein’ had pale pink-colored petal venation.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in 11.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse and subsequently in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C. and night temperatures ranged from 13° C. to 16° C. Plants were pinched two times and were six weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.Botanical classification:Petunia×hybrida‘USTUN53402’.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection ofPetunia×hybridaidentified as code number P435-03, not patented.Male, or pollen, parent.—Petunia×hybrida‘Pixie Blue Veined’, not patented.Propagation:Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 15 days at temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 29° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 20 days at temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 21° C.Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous.Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.Plant description:Plant and growth habit.—Upright and outwardly spreading to trailing plant habit; freely branching habit with about twelve primary lateral branches with multiple secondary lateral branches developing per plant; dense and bushy appearance; pinching enhances development of lateral branches; vigorous growth habit.Plant height.—About 15.5 cm.Plant diameter(area of spread).—About 37 cm by 41 cm.Lateral branches.—Length: About 22 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Internode length: About 1.6 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Initially upright then falling outwardly. Texture: Pubescent; glandular. Color: Close to 146C.Leaf description:Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after flowers develop; leaves simple.Length.—About 3.4 cm.Width.—About 2 cm.Shape.—Elliptical.Apex.—Broadly acute.Base.—Attenuate.Margin.—Entire.Texture, upper surface.—Sparsely pubescent; glandular.Texture, lower surface.—Pubescent; minute.Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146B.Petioles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; minute. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C.Flower description:Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary salverform flowers; flowers face mostly upward to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 15 open flowers per lateral branch and more than 500 flowers developing per plant.Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long flowering period, plants flower from early spring until frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about four weeks after planting.Flower longevity on the plant.—About four to five days; flowers persistent.Fragrance.—Very faint, floral spice.Flower buds.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Oblong. Color: Close to 76D.Flower diameter.—About 4.4 cm.Flower depth(height).—About 3.6 cm.Throat diameter, distal.—About 1 cm.Tube length.—About 3 cm.Tube diameter, proximal.—About 2.5 mm.Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat): About 1.8 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2 cm. Petal lobe shape: Obovate. Petal lobe apex: Rounded. Petal lobe margin: Entire. Petal lobe texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Petal lobe texture, lower surface: Mostly smooth with silky pubescence along the veins. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 75C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 76D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 75B; venation, close to 71A; color becoming closer to 69B to 69C with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 76C; venation, close to 72D. Flower throat (inside): Close to N78D; venation, close to N79A. Flower tube (outside): Close to 186D tinted with close to 194B; venation, close to 197A.Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a single star-shaped whorl. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; minute. Color, upper surface: Close to N137A. Color, lower surface: Close to N137B.Peduncles.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Angle: About 30° to 45° from the stem axis. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent; minute. Color: Close to 146C.Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five. Filament length: About 2 cm. Filament color: Close to 157B. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color: Close to N187B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to more blue than N187B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.2 cm. Style length: About 1.9 cm. Style color: Close to 145D. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to N189B. Ovary color: Close to 145B.Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been observed on plants of the newPetunia.Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the newPetuniahave not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common toPetuniaplants.Garden performance: Plants of the newPetuniahave been observed to have good garden performance and have been observed to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C.