Petunia plant named ‘PBLRE32-0’

A new and distinct Petunia cultivar named ‘PBLRE32-0’ is disclosed, characterized by unique solid scarlet red flowers with white throat and a mounding plant habit. Plants of the new variety are highly floriferous and form dense, attractive plant shapes with exceptionally good branching. The new variety is a Petunia, suitable as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species:Petuniahybrid.

The newPetuniacultivar resulted as part of a planned breeding program by the inventor Jun Tsukahara, in Yame, Fukuoka, Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to develop newPetuniavarieties with interesting colors and attractive plant forms.

The new variety resulted from the crossing of the seed parent, an unnamed, unpatented proprietaryPetuniaseedling with the pollen parent, an unnamed, unpatented proprietaryPetuniaseedling in September 2006. The new variety was discovered in May of 2007 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from that crossing, in a commercial greenhouse in Yame, Fukuoka, Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PBLRE32-0’ by vegetative cuttings was first performed at a commercial greenhouse in Yame, Fukuoka, Japan in May 2007. Subsequently many generations have been produced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PBLRE32-0’ has not observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length 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 ‘PBLRE32-0.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PBLRE32-0’ as a new and distinctPetuniacultivar:1. Unique flower color of solid scarlet red with a white throat.2. Mounding plant shape.3. Highly floriferous plant habit.4. Attractive densely growing plant habit.5. Exceptionally good branching.

COMPARISON TO THE PARENT VARIETIES

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PBLRE32-0’ are similar in most horticultural characteristics to plants of the unnamed proprietary seed parent. However, the new variety has a larger overall flower size and shorter internodes than the seed parent. Additionally, plants of the seed parent produce red-violet colored flowers, whereas ‘PBLRE32-0’ produces scarlet red flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PBLRE32-0’ are similar in most horticultural characteristics to plants of the unnamed proprietary pollen parent. However, the pollen parent has darker colored flowers, and a larger overall flower size than the new cultivar. Additionally, the pollen parent has longer internodes and a less mounding plant habit than the new cultivar.

COMPARISON TO COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

The new cultivar can be compared to the patented commercial variety ‘Blue Salmon Pink’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,181. ‘PBLRE32-0’ is similar to this commercial variety in most horticultural characteristics, most specifically, in plant habit, however, plants of the new variety produce different color flowers, and produce more flowers per plant.

The new cultivar can be compared to the patented commercial variety ‘MP101’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,998. ‘PBLRE32-0’ is similar to this commercial variety in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new variety produce larger flowers, and an overall plant shape that is significantly more mounding than trailing.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurement describe ‘PBLRE32-0’ plants grown in a commercial greenhouse in Oxnard, Calif. The growing temperature ranged from 18° C. to 25° C. The greenhouse is subject to partial shade. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight with some shade during the brightest part of the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.Botanical classification:Petuniahybrid ‘PBLRE32-0’.

PROPAGATION

Time to initiate roots: About 7 days at approximately 25° C.Time to develop roots: About 14 to 21 days at approximately 25° C.Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

Growth habit: Mounding.Age of the plant described: Approximately 20 weeks from 5 rooted cuttings.Pot size of plant described: Approximately 10 inch basket.Height: Approximately 21 cm from soil line to top of plant.Plant spread: Approximately 48 cm at widest point.Growth rate: Rapid.Branching characteristics: Free branching.Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 18 cm.Quantity of primary lateral branches: Approximately 70.Characteristics of primary lateral branches:Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.Color.—Near RHS Green 138A.Texture.—Pubescent.Strength.—Highly flexible, moderately strong.Internode length: Approximately 1.9 cm.

FOLIAGE

FLOWER

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

Seeds and fruits: Not observed.Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistant nor susceptible to normal diseases and pests ofPetunia.Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures between approximately 6° to 35° C.