Patent Publication Number: US-PP17734-P2

Title: Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Deksinatra’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Chrysanthemum×morifolium.    
   Cultivar denomination: ‘Deksinatra’. 
   CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application is co-pending with the following related application: Title:  Chrysanthemum  Plant Named ‘Dekmallorca’. Applicant: Cornelis W. Dekker. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant, botanically known as  Chrysanthemum×morifolium  and referred to by the name ‘Deksinatra’. 
   The new  Chrysanthemum  is the product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut  Chrysanthemum  cultivars with interesting inflorescence forms and attractive floret coloration. 
   The new  Chrysanthemum  originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Jan. 28, 2003, in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of  Chrysanthemum  identified as code number 41756, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary  Chrysanthemum  selection identified as code number 98.239.04, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new  Chrysanthemum  was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. 
   Asexual reproduction of the new  Chrysanthemum  by terminal cuttings in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since April, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new  Chrysanthemum  are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The cultivar Deksinatra has 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 ‘Deksinatra’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Deksinatra’ as a new and distinct cultivar:
         1. Decorative-type inflorescences with elliptic-shaped, bronze red-colored ray florets.   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.   3. Early and uniform flowering response.   4. Good postproduction longevity.       

   Plants of the new  Chrysanthemum  can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new  Chrysanthemum  differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Chrysanthemum  were less vigorous than plants of the female parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Chrysanthemum  had larger inflorescences than plants of the female parent selection.   3. Plants of the new  Chrysanthemum  flowered about three to four days earlier than plants of the female parent selection.       

   Plants of the new  Chrysanthemum  can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new  Chrysanthemum  differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Chrysanthemum  were less vigorous than plants of the male parent selection.   2. Plants of the new  Chrysanthemum  had larger leaves and inflorescences than plants of the male parent selection.   3. Plants of the new  Chrysanthemum  flowered about three to four days earlier than plants of the male parent selection.       

   Plants of the new  Chrysanthemum  can be compared to plants of the  Chrysanthemum  cultivar Dekmallorca. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new  Chrysanthemum  differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Dekmallorca in the following characteristics:
         1. Plants of the new  Chrysanthemum  had larger inflorescences than plants of the cultivar Dekmallorca.   2. Plants of the new  Chrysanthemum  and the cultivar Dekmallorca differed in ray floret color as plants of the cultivar Dekmallorca had dark pink-colored ray florets.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
     The accompanying colored photographs illustrate 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 photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new  Chrysanthemum.    
     The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Deksinatra’. 
     The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Deksinatra’. 
     The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of upper and lower surfaces of typical leaves of ‘Deksinatra’. 
   

   DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
   In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given 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 17.5° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18.5° C. to 24° C. and light levels were about five kilolux. Plants were pinched once and were about ten weeks from planting when the photographs and the description were taken.
     Botanical classification:  Chrysanthemum×morifolium  cultivar Deksinatra.   Commercial classification: Decorative-type  Chrysanthemum  typically grown as a disbud-type cut flower.   Parentage:
             Female or seed parent. —Proprietary selection of  Chrysanthemum×morifolium  identified as code number 41756, not patented.     Male or pollen parent. —Proprietary selection of  Chrysanthemum×morifolium  identified as code number 98.239.04, not patented.       
       Propagation:
             Type. —Terminal tip cuttings.     Time to initiate roots, summer. —About 6 days at 20° C.     Time to initiate roots, winter. —About 7 days at 20° C.     Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer. —About 14 days at 20° C.     Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter. —About 16 days at 20° C.     Root description. —Fine; light brown in color.     Rooting habit. —Freely branching.       
       Plant description:
             Appearance. —Herbaceous decorative-type cut  Chrysanthemum;  typically grown as a disbud-type; erect and strong flowering stems. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     Flowering stem description. —Length: About 70 cm to 80 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Aspect: Erect. Branching habit: Plants are typically grown as single stems. Color: 146B.     Foliage description. —Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 6 cm to 12 cm. Width: About 6 cm to 12 cm. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Pinnately lobed. Texture, upper and lower surface: Pubescent; rough; leathery. Petiole length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: 137A. Developing foliage, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Darker than 137A; venation, 147B. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, 147C. Petiole, upper and lower surfaces: 147D.       
       Inflorescence description:
             Appearance. —Decorative-type inflorescence form with elliptic-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals above foliage. Disk and ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences not fragrant. Typically grown as a disbud-type.     Flowering response. —Under natural conditions, plant typically flower in November 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). Plants exposed to long day/short night conditions after planting followed by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about 7.5 weeks later. Early and uniform flowering response.     Postproduction longevity. —Cut inflorescences will maintain good substance and form for about three weeks.     Quantity of inflorescences per flowering stem. —Grown as a disbud-type, only one inflorescence per stem is allowed to develop. Grown as a spray-type, about 10 to 14 inflorescences develop per flowering stem.     Inflorescence size. —Diameter: About 11 cm. Depth (height): About 3 cm to 4 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.2 cm.     Inflorescence buds. —Height: About 4 mm to 5 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm to 7 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color: 143A to 143B.     Ray florets. —Length: About 2.5 cm to 5 cm. Width: About 1 cm to 1.8 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Rounded or retuse. Base: Attenuate; fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 300. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 180A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 173D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 179B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 165D.     Disc florets. —Shape: Ligulate. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About 20. Color, immature and mature: Towards the apex, 144A; towards the base, 144C.     Peduncles. —Length: About 1 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Angle: Erect. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 147B.     Reproductive organs. —Androecium: No anthers observed on disc florets. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Stigma length: About 7 mm. Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma color: Towards the apex, 14A; towards the base, 154B.     Seed/fruit. —Seed and fruit production has not been observed.       
       Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to known  Chrysanthemum  pathogens and pests has not been observed on plants of the new  Chrysanthemum.