Chrysanthemum plant named Surfine

A chrysanthemum plant named Surfine having flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; light yellow ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 70 to 85 mm. at maturity; uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; short plant height when grown as a pinched, spray pot mum, and semi-spreading branching

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of 
Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named Surfine. 
Surfine is a product of a planned sport induction program which had the 
objective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars that would expand the 
color range on existing cultivars while retaining their other original 
traits. 
Surfine was discovered and selected by Williami E. Duffett on Apr. 7, 1980 
in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. as one flowering plant, a 
color variant within a flowering block established as rooted cuttings from 
stock plants which had been exposed as unrooted cuttings to an X-ray 
source of 900 rads. The irradiated variety was Surf, disclosed in U.S. 
Plant Pat. No. 4,585 and originated by the present inventor. 
The first act of asexual reproduction of Surfine was accomplished when 
vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in July 1980 in 
a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technician working under 
formulations established and supervised by William E. Duffett. 
Horticultural examination of selected units initiated October 1980 has 
demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed 
for Surfine are firmly fixed and are retained through successive 
generations of asexual reproduction. 
Surfine has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. 
The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such 
as temperature, light intensity and day length. The observations, 
measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif. and 
Leamington, Canada under greenhouse conditions which approximate those 
generally used in commercial practice. 
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be 
basic characteristics of Surfine which in combination distinguish this 
chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar. 
(1) Flat capitulum form; 
(2) Decorative capitulum type; 
(3) Light yellow ray floret color; 
(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 70 to 85 mm. at 
maturity; 
(5) Uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; 
(6) Short plant height, requiring 1-2 long day weeks prior to pinch and 
short days, and 1-2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 after the beginning of 
short days to attain a flowered plant height of 25 to 35 cm., and 
(7) Semi-spreading branching pattern.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most 
similar in comparison to Surfine is Yellow Torch, disclosed in U.S. Plant 
Pat. No. 3,421. Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares 
certain characteristics of Surfine to those same characteristics of Yellow 
Torch and the parent cultivar Surf. 
Yellow Torch differs from Surfine by exhibiting deeper color, a far more 
upright branching pattern and slower flowering response by one week. 
Yellow Torch and Surfine are similar in capitulum form and type, capitulum 
diameter and plant height. 
The parent cultivar Surf displays a larger flower and approximately five 
days faster flowering response. 
In the following description, color references are made to The Royal 
Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined 
between 1:30 P.M. and 2:00 P.M. on Aug. 13, 1982 under 150 foot-candle 
light intensity at Salinas, Calif.