Patent Publication Number: US-2002010955-P1

Title: Chrysanthemum named &#39;Sunny Elite Reagan&#39;

Description:
RELATED CULTIVARS  
       [0001] ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’ is related to ‘White Elite Reagan’ (#______) and the co-pending application of ‘Cream Elite Reagan’ (#______). ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’ and ‘Cream Elite Reagan’ are both natural mutants of ‘White Elite reagan’ 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’ is a product of a breeding and selection program which had the objective of fmding color mutants of ‘White Elite Reagan’. The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant that is a natural occuring sport of a parent chrysanthemum named ‘White Elite Reagan’ ( #______). A comparison with Parent chrysanthemum ‘White Elite Reagan’ is also made in this application. The new cultivar was discovered as a whole plant mutation in April 1999 by Rob Noodelijk in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout Holland. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in June 1999 in Rijsenhout Holland.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] The present invention is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum bearing medium sized blooms with yellow ray-florets and yellow-green disc florets. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0004] 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.  
     [0005]FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.  
     [0006]FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.  
     [0007]FIG. 3 shows the foliage of the new cultivar. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0008] This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification  dendranthema grandiflora.  The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown in April/May in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout Holland 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 50 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. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. This new variety produces medium sized blooms with yellow ray-florets and yellow-green disc-florets blooming on the plant for 5 weeks. 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 ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’ can be planted without assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps) between week 50 and week 40 of the next year under greenhouse conditions in Holland. With assimilation light (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted year round under greenhouse conditions in Holland.  
     [0009] From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’ is ‘White Elite Reagan’ and ‘Sunny Reagan (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9928). When ‘White Elite Reagan’ and ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’ are being compared the following differences and similarities are noticed: The difference of ‘White Elite Reagan’ and ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’ is the flower color for which characteristics ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’ has been selected out of ‘White Elite Reagan’. All other characteristics of ‘White Elite Reagan’ and ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’ are similar.  
     [0010] The differences of ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’ and ‘Sunny Reagan’ are: (1) Disc flower color and size. The flower disc of ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’ is more green and smaller. (2) Growth rate. The growth of ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’ is more vigorous. (3) Response time. The response time of ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’ is 3 till 4 days shorter.  
     [0011] The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’ as a new and distinct variety.  
     [0012] 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 color chart, edition 1995.  
     [0013]               TABLE 1                       Botanical Description of       CULTIVAR ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’                                        Bud           Size   Medium, cross-section +/− 1.0 cm           height +/− 0.8 cm       Outside Color   Yellow 9 A       Involucral bracts   2 rows, length 7 mm, width 3 mm       Involucral bracts among   Not present       disc-florets       Involucral bracts color   Green 138 B       Bloom       Type   Single       Height   Flat       Size   Medium       Fully Expanded   6.0-7.0 cm       Number of blooms per   Average of 11-12       single stem       Seeds   Not produced       Performance (blooming period)   26-28 days       Fragrance   Typical chrysanthemum       Color       Center of the flower   Immature yellow-green 144 B, mature       (disc-florets)   yellow-green 144 B to yellow 3 A           along the border       Color of upper surface of   Yellow 5 A       the majority of the ray-florets       Color of the lower surface of   Yellow 5 C       the majority of the ray-florets       Tonality from Distance   A spray mum with yellow flowers and a           yellow-green disc       Discoloration to color   Yellow 4 A       Ray florets       Texture   Upper and under side smooth       Number   20-22       Cross-section   Flat, sometimes convex       Longitudinal axis of majority   Straight, sometimes reflexing       Length of corolla tube   Very short to short       Ray-floret length   3.5 cm       Ray-floret width   1.2 cm       Ratio length/width   Low to medium       Shape of tip   Pointed       Disc florets       Disc diameter   Medium to small, 1.0-1.2 cm       Distribution of disc florets   Numerous, clearly visible at all           stages of flowering       Type   Tubular       Color   Yellow-green 144 A       Receptacle shape   Conical raised       Reproductive Organs       Stamen (present in disc   Yellow-green, thin 3 mm in length       florets only)       Stamen color   Yellow-green 150 B       Pollen   Appears at a very late stage of           flowering,       Pollen color   Close to yellow 12 A       Styles (present in both   Green, thin       ray and disc florets)       Style color   Green 143 B       Style Length   4 mm       Stigmas   Yellow-green       Stigma Width   1 mm       Ovaries   Enclosed in calyx       Plant       Form   A spray mum meant for erect culture       Growth habit   Upright       Growth rate   Vigorous       Height   105-130 cm       internodes   3-3.5 cm       Spray formation   Corymbiform (funnel-shaped with a           little round to flat umbel on top)       Peduncle length   Near the top 14 cm, near the middle           21 cm, near the bottom 26 cm       Peduncle color   Green 138 B       Peduncle, attachment   Good, not brittle       Peduncle, angle with stem   Small, 30°       Stem Color   Green 137 A       Stem Strength   Medium       Stem Brittleness   Absent       Stem Anthocyanin Coloration   Absent       Flowering Response   50 days       (photo-periodic controlled       crop, not natural season)       Foliage       Color   Upper side Under side       Size   Medium; length +/− 12 cm,           width +/8 cm       Quantity (number per   22-28       single stem)       Shape   Ovate       Texture upper side   Scabrous       Texture under side   Slightly pubescent       Venation arrangement   Pinnate       Shape of the margin   Lobed       Shape of Base of Sinus Between   Round       Lateral Lobes       Margin of Sinus Between   Diverging       Lateral       Lobes       Shape of Base   Truncate, sometimes asymmetrical       Apex   Mucronate                    
     TABLE 2  
     Differences with the Comparison Varieties  
     [0014]               TABLE 2                          Differences with the comparison Varieties                                 ‘Sunny   ‘White   ‘Sunny           Elite Reagan’   Elite Reagan’   Reagan’                                         Color of the ray-florets   Yellow 5 A   White 155 D   Yellow 5 A       Flower disc size   1.0-1.2 cm   1.0-1.2 cm   1.5 cm       Flower disc color   Yellow-green   Yellow-green   Yellow-green       immature   144 A   144 A   151 C       Growth rate   vigorous   vigorous   Strong       Peduncle, angle with   30°   30°   30-35°       stem       Response time in days   50   49   53-54