Patent Publication Number: US-PP15814-P2

Title: Petunia plant named ‘Whip Sal’

Description:
Botanical classification/cultivar designation:  Petunia×hybrida  cultivar Whip Sal. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant, botanically known as  Petunia×hybrida,  and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Whip Sal. 
   The new  Petunia  is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Gilroy, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely flowering  Petunias  with trailing and spreading plant habit and attractive leaf and flower coloration. 
   The new  Petunia  originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in September, 2000 of a proprietary selection of  Petunia×hybrida  identified as code number 00-382-4, not patented, as the female, or seed parent, with a proprietary selection of  Petunia×hybrida  identified as code number 00-504-4, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The new  Petunia  was selected as a single plant from the resulting progeny of the cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif. in March, 2001. 
   Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal vegetative cuttings since March, 2001, in Gilroy, Calif. has shown that the unique features of this new  Petunia  are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Plants of the cultivar Whip Sal have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength without, however, any variance in genotype. 
   The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Whip Sal’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Whip Sal’ as a new and distinct cultivar:
         1. Low trailing, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.   2. Freely branching habit.   3. Freely flowering habit.   4. Single flowers that are pink in color.   5. Good garden performance.       

   In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new  Petunia  differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Petunia  were more freely flowering than plants of the female parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Petunia  had smaller flowers than plants of the female parent selection.   3. Plants of the new  Petunia  and the female parent selection differed in flower color as plants of the female parent selection had purple-colored flowers.       

   In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new  Petunia  differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Petunia  were more vigorous than plants of the male parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Petunia  had smaller flowers than plants of the male parent selection.   3. Plants of the new  Petunia  and the male parent selection differed in flower color as plants of the male parent selection had scarlet-colored flowers.       

   Plants of the new  Petunia  can be compared to plants of the cultivar Supertunia Soft Pink, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new  Petunia  differed from plants of the cultivar Supertunia Soft Pink in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Petunia  had smaller flowers than plants of the cultivar Supertunia Soft Pink.   2. Flowers of plants of the new  Petunia  were darker pink in color than flowers of plants of the cultivar Supertunia Soft Pink.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
     The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new  Petunia.    
     The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Whip Sal’ grown in a container. 
     The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘Whip Sal’. 
   

   DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
   Plants of the cultivar Whip Sal have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Gilroy, Calif., under commercial practice in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse during the summer with day temperatures ranging from 24 to 29° C., night temperatures ranging from 13 to 18° C. and light levels about 2,000 foot-candles. Plants used for the photographs and description were about 12 weeks from planting rooted cuttings. 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.
     Botanical classification:  Petunia×hybrida  cultivar Whip Sal.   Parentage:
             Female parent. —Proprietary selection of  Petunia×hybrida  identified as code number 00-382-4, not patented.     Male parent. —Proprietary selection of  Petunia×hybrida  identified as code number 00-504-4, not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type cutting. —Terminal vegetative cuttings.     Time to initiate roots, summer and winter. —About 10 to 12 days at 23° C.     Time to develop roots, summer and winter. —About 18 to 23 days at 23° C.     Root description. —Fine, fibrous; white in color.     Rooting habit. —Freely branching.       
       Plant description:
             Form. —Annual flowering plant; indeterminate; initially upright, then low trailing and outwardly spreading; uniformly mounded plant form. Freely branching habit; about seven basal branches each with about five lateral branches. Pinching enhances development of lateral branches.     Usage. —Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes, patio containers and landscape applications.     Plant height. —About 22 cm.     Plant diameter  ( area of spread ).—About 50 cm.     Vigor. —Vigorous; rapid growth rate.     Lateral branches. —Length: About 33 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Internode length: About 6 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.     Foliage description. —Arrangement: Alternate before flowering; opposite after flowers develop; simple. Length: About 6 cm. Width: About 3.6 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; glandular. Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 146A. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 146B. Venation, upper surface: 146B. Venation, lower surface: 147C. Petiole length: About 7 mm. Petiole diameter: About 3 mm. Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces: 146C.       
       Flower description:
             Flower type and habit. —Single salverform flowers; flowers face mostly upward or outward; axillary. Freely flowering habit, about two to three open flowers and about three flower buds per lateral branch at one time.     Natural flowering season. —Long day responsive; long flowering period, spring until frost in the autumn; flowering continuous during this period. Plants start flowering about eight weeks after planting rooted cuttings. Flowers persistent.     Flower longevity on the plant. —About seven to ten days.     Fragrance. —None detected.     Flower size. —Diameter: About 3.7 cm. Tube length: About 2.2 cm. Throat diameter, distil end: About 8 mm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 3 mm.     Flower buds. —Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Elongated oblong with ruffled apices. Color: More pink than 198D.     Petals. —Quantity/arrangement: About five petals fused in a single whorl, funnelform. Length from throat: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Roughly fan-shaped. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: 54A. When opening, lower surface: 55C to 55D. Fully opened, upper surface: 55B. Fully opened, lower surface: 55C to 55D; towards throat, 155D. Flower throat (inside): 155A. Flower tube (outside): 155A. Venation, upper petal surface: 54B. Venation, lower petal surface: 144C. Venation, throat: 144C. Venation, tube: 144C.     Sepals. —Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals fused at base, star-shaped. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: 147A. Color, lower surface: 147B.     Peduncles. —Length: About 3.8 cm. Width: About 1.25 mm. Angle: About 45 to 90° from the stem. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144B.     Reproductive organs. —Stamens: Quantity per flower: About five. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther size: About 2 mm by 2 mm. Anther color: 155A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 155A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.2 cm. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style color: 145C. Stigma shape: Anvil-shaped. Stigma color: 146B. Ovary color: 144C.     Seed/fruit. —Seed and/or fruit production has not been observed.       
       Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new  Petunia  have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to  Petunia.      Garden performance: Plants of the new  Petunia  have been observed to have good garden performance. Plants of the new  Petunia  have been noted to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures from 0 to 40° C.