Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekmajor’

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekmajor’, characterized by its large daisy-type inflorescences with white-colored ray florets; strong, thick and upright flowering stems; uniform and freely flowering habit; and good postproduction longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemumplant, botanically known asChrysanthemum×morifolium, commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dekmajor’.

The newChrysanthemumplant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new daisy-typeChrysanthemumplants with large inflorescences, strong flowering stems, attractive ray floret coloration and excellent postproduction longevity.

The newChrysanthemumplant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands on Feb. 13, 2007, of a proprietary selection ofChrysanthemum×morifoliumidentified as code number 40693, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofChrysanthemum×morifoliumidentified as code number 05.47071.02, not patented. The newChrysanthemumplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands in October, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the newChrysanthemumplant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since November, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this newChrysanthemumplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the newChrysanthemumhave 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 ‘Dekmajor’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dekmajor’ as a new and distinctChrysanthemumplant:1. Large daisy-type inflorescences with white-colored ray florets.2. Strong, thick and upright flowering stems.3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.4. Good postproduction longevity; plants maintain good substance for about 18 days in an interior environment.

Plants of the newChrysanthemumdiffer from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newChrysanthemumflower six days earlier than plants of the female parent selection.2. Plants of the newChrysanthemumhave smaller inflorescences than plants of the female parent selection.3. Plants of the newChrysanthemumand the female parent selection differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent selection have pink-colored ray florets.

Plants of the newChrysanthemumdiffer from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newChrysanthemumflower three days earlier than plants of the male parent selection.2. Plants of the newChrysanthemumhave larger inflorescences than plants of the male parent selection.3. Plants of the newChrysanthemumand the male parent selection differ in disc color as plants of the male parent have yellow green-colored disc florets.

Plants of the newChrysanthemumcan be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum×morifolium‘Bacardi’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the newChrysanthemumdiffered from plants of ‘Bacardi’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newChrysanthemumflowered about seven days earlier than plants of ‘Bacardi’.2. Plants of the newChrysanthemumhad larger inflorescences than plants of ‘Bacardi’.3. Ray florets of plants of the newChrysanthemumwere more upright than ray florets of plants of ‘Bacardi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given 1.5 weeks of long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and light levels were about 7 kilolux. Plants were eight weeks old when the photographs and the 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:Chrysanthemum×morifolium‘Dekmajor’.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection ofChrysanthemum×morifoliumidentified as code number 40693, not patented.Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection ofChrysanthemum×morifoliumidentified as code number 05.47071.02, not patented.Propagation:Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at 20° C.Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at 20° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days at 20° C.Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days at 20° C.Root description.—Fine, fibrous; light brown in color.Rooting habit.—Freely branching, moderately dense.Plant description:Appearance/growth habit.—Herbaceous daisy-type cut flower that is typically grown as a spray-type; vigorous growth habit.Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong. Length: About 75 cm. Stem diameter: About 7 mm. Spray diameter: About 20 cm. Internode length: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Texture: Finely pubescent; longitudinally ridged. Color: Close to 146B.Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length: About 5 cm to 13 cm. Width: About 4 cm to 8.5 cm. Apex: Mucronulate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed, serrate; sinuses parallel to divergent. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent, slightly rough; veins prominent on lower surface. Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 146A to 146B. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146B. Petiole: Length: About 1 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly rough. Color, upper surface: Close to 147B to 147C. Color, lower surface: Close to 146B.Inflorescence description:Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with oval-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets; inflorescences borne perpendicular to axillary laterals (peduncles); ray and disc florets develop acropetally on a capitulum.Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant.Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering response; plants exposed to 1.5 weeks of long day/short night conditions after planting followed by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about 43 days later when grown as a spray-type.Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment, inflorescences and foliage will maintain good color and substance for about 18 days; inflorescences persistent.Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit, when grown as a spray type, about 25 to 30 inflorescences develop.Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7 cm. Depth (height): About 2.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.5 cm. Receptacle height: About 3 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 4 mm to 6 mm. Receptacle color: Close to 145B.Inflorescence buds.—Shape: Flattened spherical. Height: About 4 mm to 5 mm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Color: Close to 137C.Ray florets.—Length: About 2.6 cm to 3.2 cm. Width: About 1 cm to 1.4 cm. Shape: Oval. Apex: Rounded to slightly emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Number per inflorescence: About 20 to 25 arranged in about two whorls. Aspect: About 30° to 45° from horizontal. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D.Disc florets.—Shape: Fused tubular, erect and elongated. Apex: Dentate. Length: About 4 mm to 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Number per inflorescence: About 250, massed at the center of the receptacle. Color: When opening: Apex: Close to 144A. Mid-section: Close to 154B. Base: Close to 150D. Fully opened: Apex: Close to 5A. Mid-section: Close to 150D. Base: Close to 145D.Involucral bracts.—Length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Width: About 2 mm to 7 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Rounded to truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Number per inflorescence: About 35 arranged in about three whorls. Color, upper surface: Close to 137B to 137C. Color, lower surface: Close to 137A.Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: Terminal inflorescence bud removed to enhance spray development. Length, fourth peduncle: About 8 cm to 10 cm. Length, seventh peduncle: About 11 cm to 13 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 30° from the flowering stem axis. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146A.Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Not observed. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: Greenish. Stigma color: Yellow.Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been observed.Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common toChrysanthemumshas not been observed on plants grown under commercial conditions.