Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Yobethany’

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Yobethany’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and full plant habit; uniform and freely flowering habit; decorative-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped ray florets; yellow-colored ray florets; and natural season flowering in early October in the Northern Hemisphere.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemumplant, botanically known asChrysanthemum×morifolium,commercially known as a garden-typeChrysanthemumand hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Yobethany’.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Salinas, Calif. and Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new garden-typeChrysanthemumcultivars having inflorescences with desirable inflorescence forms, attractive floret colors and good garden performance.

The newChrysanthemumoriginated from a cross-pollination made in November, 1999 in Salinas, Calif., of a proprietary selection ofChrysanthemum×morifoliumidentified as code number 96-L067, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofChrysanthemum×morifoliumidentified as code number 95-L443007, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newChrysanthemumwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla. in October, 2001. The selection of this plant was based on its desirable inflorescence form, attractive floret coloration and good garden performance.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla. since January, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this newChrysanthemumare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Yobethany has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Yobethany’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Yobethany’ as a new and distinct cultivar:1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.2. Freely branching habit; dense and full plants.3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.4. Decorative-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped ray florets.5. Yellow-colored ray florets.6. Natural season flowering in early October in the Northern Hemisphere.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newChrysanthemumdiffered from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newChrysanthemumwere slightly larger than plants of the female parent selection.2. Plants of the newChrysanthemumand the female parent selection differed in ray floret coloration as plants of the female parent selection had white-colored ray florets.3. Plants of the newChrysanthemumflowered about two weeks later than plants of the female parent selection when grown under natural season conditions.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newChrysanthemumdiffered from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newChrysanthemumwere stronger and more uniform than plants of the male parent selection.2. Plants of the newChrysanthemumflowered more uniformly than plants of the male parent selection.3. Plants of the newChrysanthemumhad smaller inflorescences than plants of the male parent selection.4. Plants of the newChrysanthemumhad fewer disc florets per inflorescence than plants of the male parent selection.5. Plants of the newChrysanthemumflowered about one week later than plants of the male parent selection when grown under natural season conditions.

Plants of the newChrysanthemumcan be compared to plants of theChrysanthemumcultivar Sunny Denise, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,980. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newChyrsanthemumdiffered from plants of the cultivar Sunny Denise in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newChrysanthemumwere smaller and more rounded than and not as upright as plants of the cultivar Sunny Denise.2. Plants of the newChrysanthemumwere more freely flowering than plants of the cultivar Sunny Denise.3. Plants of the newChrysanthemumhad smaller inflorescences than plants of the cultivar Sunny Denise.4. Ray florets of plants of the newChrysanthemumwere darker yellow in color than ray florets of plants of the cultivar Sunny Denise.

Plants of the newChrysanthemumcan also be compared to plants of theChrysanthemumcultivar Cleagar gf1 disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,463. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newChrysanthemumdiffered from plants of the cultivar Cleagar gf1 in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newChrysanthemumwere larger and more rounded than plants of the cultivar Cleagar gf1.2. Plants of theChrysanthemumhad better garden performance and were durable than plants of the cultivar Cleagar gf1.3. Plants of the newChrysanthemumflowered more uniformly than plants of the cultivar Cleagar gf1.4. Plants of the newChrysanthemumhad smaller inflorescences than plants of the cultivar Cleagar gf1.5. Ray florets of plants of the newChrysanthemumwere brighter yellow in color than ray florets of plants of the cultivar Cleagar gf1.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Leamington, Ontario, Canada during the summer in a glass-covered greenhouse and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial garden-typeChrysanthemumproduction. Rooted cuttings were planted in 15.25-cm containers, grown under artificial long day conditions (four-hour night interruption) and pinched about ten days later. About ten days after the pinch, plants were then exposed to artificial short day conditions (11.5 hours light) until flowering. During the production of the plants, temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 38° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants.Botanical classification:Chrysanthemum×morifoliumcultivar Yobethany.Commercial classification: Decorative-type gardenChrysanthemum.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection ofChrysanthemum×morifoliumidentified as code number 96-L067, not patented.Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection ofChrysanthemum×morifoliumidentified as code number 95-L443007, not patented.Propagation:Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.Time to initiate roots.—About four days at 21° C.Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About ten to twelve days at 21° C.Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.Rooting habit.—Freely branching.Plant description:Plant form/growth habit.—Perennial herbaceous decorative-type gardenChrysanthemum.Inverted triangle with mounded crown. Stems initially upright, then somewhat outwardly spreading; rounded growth habit. Freely branching with about seven primary branches with secondary lateral branches potentially forming at every node. Moderately vigorous.Plant height.—About 18 cm.Plant diameter.—About 28 cm.Lateral branches.—Length: About 16.5 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.3 cm. Aspect: Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146A.Foliage description.—Leaf arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 4.6 cm. Width: About 2.9 cm. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed, sinuses mostly divergent. Texture, upper surface: Slightly pubescent. Texture, lower surface: Pubescent; veins prominent. Color: Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Darker green than 147A. Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close to 147B. Venation, upper surface: Close to 147A. Venation, lower surface: Close to 147B. Petiole length: About 1.3 cm. Petiole diameter: About 3 mm. Petiole color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Petiole color, lower surface: Close to 146B.Inflorescence description:Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with elongated oblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals above foliage, arising from leaf axils. Ray florets developing acropetally on a capitulum. About six inflorescences per secondary lateral branch.Flowering response.—Under natural season conditions, plants flower in early October in the Northern Hemisphere.Inflorescence bud(before showing color).—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color (lower surface of phyllaries): More green than 147A.Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 2.5 cm. Depth (height): About 1.1 cm. Disc diameter: About 2 mm; inconspicious. Receptacle diameter: About 3.5 mm.Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated oblong-shaped. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 3.5 mm. Corolla tube length: About 2.5 mm. Corolla tube diameter: About 1 mm. Apex: Emarginate or rounded. Margin: Fused. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Orientation: Initially upright, eventually perpendicular to the peduncle. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 155 in numerous whorls. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 6A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 6A to 6B.Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, elongated. Length: About 3 mm. Width, apex: About 1 mm. Width, base: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About five. Color: Immature: Close to 9A. Mature: Apex: Close to 9A. Mid-section: Close to 154D. Base: Close to 155D.Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 18. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, waxy. Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: More green than 147A.Peduncle.—Length: First peduncle: About 1.4 cm. Fourth peduncle: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 45° from vertical. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146A.Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 12A. Amount of pollen: None observed. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Style length: About 4 mm. Style color: Close to 154A. Stigma color: Close to 9A.Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the newChrysanthemumhave not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common toChrysanthemums.Garden performance: Plants of the newChrysanthemumhave been observed to be tolerant to rain, wind and temperatures ranging from 0° C. to more than 38° C.