Abstract:
A  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Ceregina White’ characterized by its large sized spider type blooms with white ray-florets, with a response time of 52 days, and which is grown as a disbud.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   ‘Ceregina White’ is a product of a breeding-program which had the objective of creating new  chrysanthemum  cultivars with a double type flower, a 7.5 week response and a medium plant height (90 cm). The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant. ‘Ceregina White’ is a seedling from a cross in a breeding program maintained under the control of inventor. The female parent is #92154-unpatented-, an unnamed seedling not available to inventor for description. The male parent is unknown, being a mixed population of a group of male parents. The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by Mark Roland Boeder in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in 2001. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Ceregina White’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in 2001 and propagated further in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a new and distinct variety of  chrysanthemum  bearing large sized double type blooms with white ray-florets, which is grown as a disbud. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention of a new and distinct variety of  chrysanthemum  is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type. 
       FIG. 1  shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom. 
       FIG. 2  shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar. 
       FIG. 3  shows the foliage of the new cultivar. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   This new variety of  chrysanthemum  is of the botanical classification  Chrysanthemum morifolium.  The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown in April/May in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. The greenhouse temperatures during this crop were at day-time between 18° C. and 25° C. and at night 20° C. After a long day period of 14 days the photo-periodic response time in this crop was 52 days. After the long day period to flowering growth retardants were applied 2 to 3 times in an average dose of 2.5 gram/liter water. The plants were observed (directly) during the flowering of this crop. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought tolerance. This new variety produces large sized blooms with white ray-florets blooming on the plant for 1 week. This new variety of  chrysanthemum  has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations however the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature. To show the phenotype as described ‘Ceregina White’ can be planted without assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps) between week 4 and week 36 under greenhouse conditions in The Netherlands. With assimilation light (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted year round under greenhouse conditions in The Netherlands. 
   From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Ceregina White’ is ‘Resomee White’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 11/020,211). When ‘Resomee White’ and ‘Ceregina White’ are being compared the following differences and similarities are noticed: Both ‘Resomee White’ and ‘Ceregina White’ have white double type blooms. The differences of ‘Resomee White’ and ‘Ceregina White’ are (1) Center of the bloom. In the mature stage, the center of the bloom is cream in ‘Resomee White’ and yellow-green in ‘Ceregina White’. (2) Cross section of ray florets. The cross section is flat to concave in ‘Resomee White’ and convex in‘Ceregina White’. (3) Longitudinal axis of majority of ray florets. This axis is straight in ‘Resomee White’ and incurving in ‘Ceregina White’. 
   The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Ceregina White’ as a new and distinct variety. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, edition 1995. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE 1 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Botanical Description of variety ‘ Ceregina White ’ 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
               Bud 
                 
             
             
               Size 
               Large, cross-section 1 cm height 
             
             
                 
               1 cm 
             
             
               Outside color 
               Yellow-green 145D 
             
             
               Phyllaries 
               2 rows, length 7 mm, width 3 mm 
             
             
               Involucral bracts among disc- 
               Not present 
             
             
               florets 
             
             
               Involucral bracts color 
               Green 138B 
             
             
               Inflorescence 
             
             
               Type 
               Double 
             
             
               Height 
               2 cm 
             
             
               Size 
               large 
             
             
               Fully expanded 
               11-12 cm 
             
             
               Number of blooms per stem 
               1 (disbud) 
             
             
               Performance on the plant 
               1 week 
             
             
               Seeds (if crossed) 
               Seed production not observed 
             
             
               Fragrance 
               Typical chrysanthemum, slight 
             
             
               Peduncle length 
               2 cm 
             
             
               Peduncle color 
               Green 136C 
             
             
               Color 
             
             
               Center of the flower 
               Immature Yellow-green 149D 
             
             
                 
               Mature Yellow-green 154D 
             
             
               Color of the ray-florets 
               Upper surface White 155D 
             
             
                 
               Lower surface White 155D 
             
             
               Tonality from Distance 
               A disbud mum with white double 
             
             
                 
               type flowers 
             
             
               Color of the upper surface of the 
               White 155D 
             
             
               ray-florets after aging of the plant 
             
             
               Ray florets 
             
             
               Texture 
               Upper and under side smooth 
             
             
               Number 
               220-230 
             
             
               Cross section 
               Convex 
             
             
               Longitudinal axis of majority 
               Incurving 
             
             
               Length of corolla tube 
               0.4 cm 
             
             
               Ray-floret margin 
               Entire 
             
             
               Ray-floret length 
               4.5-5 cm 
             
             
               Ray-floret width 
               0.8-1.4 cm 
             
             
               Ratio length/width 
               High 
             
             
               Shape of tip 
               Round 
             
             
               Disc florets 
             
             
               Disc diameter 
               0.5 cm 
             
             
               Distribution of disc florets 
               Few, only visible in mature stage of 
             
             
                 
               flowering 
             
             
               Shape 
               Tubular 
             
             
               Color 
               Yellow 11D 
             
             
               Receptacle shape 
               Conical raised 
             
             
               Reproductive Organs 
             
             
               Stamen 
               Present in disc florets only 
             
             
               Stamen color 
               Yellow-green 144 A 
             
             
               Pollen 
               Produced in small amount 
             
             
               Pollen color 
               Yellow 7A 
             
             
               Styles 
               Present in both ray and disc florets 
             
             
               Style color 
               Yellow 13A 
             
             
               Style length 
               3 mm 
             
             
               Stigma color 
               Yellow-green 145 D 
             
             
               Stigma Width 
               1 mm 
             
             
               Ovaries 
               Enclosed in perianth 
             
             
               Plant 
             
             
               Form 
               A disbud mum meant for erect 
             
             
                 
               culture 
             
             
               Growth habit 
               Upright 
             
             
               Growth rate 
               Moderate 
             
             
               Height 
               90 cm 
             
             
               Width 
               25 cm 
             
             
               Internode length 
               2-2.5 cm 
             
             
               Stem Color 
               Green 136 C with ribs of Green 138C 
             
             
               Stem Strength 
               Strong 
             
             
               Stem Brittleness 
               Brittle 
             
             
               Stem Anthocyanin coloration 
               Absent 
             
             
               Flowering Response (photo- 
               52 days (summer) to 55 days (winter) 
             
             
               periodic controlled crop, not 
             
             
               natural season) 
             
             
               Foliage 
             
             
               Color immature stage 
               Upper side Green 141A 
             
             
                 
               Under side Green 138B 
             
             
               Color mature stage 
               Upper side Green 137 B-C 
             
             
                 
               Under side Green 138 A-B 
             
             
               Color midvein mature leaf 
               Upper side Yellow-green 147D 
             
             
                 
               Under side Yellow-green 147D 
             
             
               Size 
               Large; length 15-16 cm, width 8-8.5 
             
             
                 
               cm 
             
             
               Quantity (number per single stem) 
               30 
             
             
               Shape 
               Ovate 
             
             
               Texture upper side 
               Fleshy and glabrous 
             
             
               Texture under side 
               Pubescent 
             
             
               Venation arrangement 
               Palmate 
             
             
               Shape of the margin 
               Serrated 
             
             
               Shape of Base of Sinus Between 
               Round 
             
             
               Lateral Lobes 
             
             
               Margin of Sinus Between Lateral 
               Diverging to parallel 
             
             
               Lobes 
             
             
               Shape of Base 
               Truncate 
             
             
               Apex 
               Mucronulate 
             
             
               Petiole Length 
               3.5 cm 
             
             
               Petiole Color 
               Yellow-green 147D 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
             
           
             
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE 2 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
             
               Differences with comparison variety 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               ‘ Ceregina White ’ 
               ‘ Resomee White ’ 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
         
             
               Center mature bloom 
               Yellow-green 154D 
               Yellow-white 158D 
             
             
               Cross section ray florets 
               Convex 
               Flat to concave 
             
             
               Longitudinal axis of majority 
               Incurving 
               Straight 
             
             
               of ray florets