Patent Publication Number: US-2002010954-P1

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

Description:
RELATED CULTIVARS  
       [0001] ‘Cream Elite Reagan’ is related to ‘White Elite Reagan’ (#______) and the co-pending application of ‘Sunny Elite Reagan’. ‘Cream Elite Reagan’ and ‘Sunny Elite reagan’ are both natural mutants of ‘White Elite Reagan’,  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] ‘Cream 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 March 1999 by Rob Noodelijk in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout Holland. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Cream Elite Reagan’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in May 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 pale 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 48 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 pale 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 ‘Cream 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. From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Cream Elite Reagan’ is ‘White Elite Reagan’ and ‘Cream Reagan’. When ‘White Elite Reagan’ and ‘Cream Elite Reagan’ are being compared the following differences and similarities arenoticed: The difference of ‘White Elite Reagan’ and ‘Cream Elite Reagan’ is the flower color for which characteristic ‘Cream Elite Reagan’ has been selected out of ‘White Elite Reagan’. All other characteristics of ‘White Elite Reagan’ and ‘Cream Elite Reagan’ are similar. The differences of ‘Cream Elite Reagan’ and ‘Cream Reagan’ are: (1) Disc flower color and size. The flower disc of ‘Cream Elite Reagan’ is more green and smaller.(2) Growth rate. The growth of ‘Cream Elite Reagan’ is more vigorous. (3) Response time. The response time of ‘Cream Elite Reagan’ is 3 till 4 days shorter.  
     [0009] The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Cream Elite Reagan’ as a new and distinct variety.  
     [0010] 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.  
     [0011]               TABLE 1                       Botanical Description of       CULTIVAR ‘Cream Elite Reagan’                                        Bud           Size   Medium, cross-section +/− 1.0 cm           height +/− 0.8 cm       Outside Color   Yellow 8 B       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 to large       Fully Expanded   7.5-8.0 cm       Number of blooms per single stem   Average of 10-12       Seeds   Not produced       Performance (blooming period)   26-28 days       Fragrance   Typical chrysanthemum       Color       Center of the flower (disc-florets)   Immature yellow-green 144 B,           mature yellow-green 144 B at the           center to yellow-green 154 A           along the border       Color of upper surface of the majo-   Yellow 5 D       rity of the ray-florets       Color of the lower surface of the   Yellow 2C       majority of the ray-florets       Tonality from Distance   A spray mum with pale yellow           flowers and a yellow-green disc       Discoloration to color   Yellow 4 D       Ray florets       Texture   Upper and under side smooth       Number   22-24       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   Round sometimes dentate       Disc florets       Disc diameter   Medium, 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 florets   Yellow-green, thin 3 mm in length       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 ray and disc   Green, thin       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   100-125 cm       internodes   3.0 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           23 cm, near the bottom 30 cm       Peduncle color   Green 138 B       Peduncle, attachment   Good, not brittle       Peduncle, angle with stem   Small, 30°       Stem Color   Green 138 B       Stem Strength   Medium       Stem Brittleness   Absent       Stem Anthocyanin Coloration   Absent       Flowering Response   48 days       (photo-periodic controlled crop,       not natural season)       Foliage       Color   Upper side Under side       Size   Medium; length +/− 12 cm, width           +/− 8.5-9.0 cm.       Quantity (number per single stem)   22-28       Shape   Ovate to oval       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 Lateral   Parallel to diverging       Lobes       Shape of Base   Truncate       Apex   Mucronate                    
     TABLE 2  
     Differences with the Comparison Varieties  
     [0012]               TABLE 2                          Differences with the comparison Varieties                                 ‘Cream   ‘White               Elite Reagan’   Elite Reagan’   ‘Cream Reagan’                                         Color of the   Yellow 5 D   White 155 D   Yellow 5 A       ray-florets       Flower disc size   1.0-1.2 cm   1.0-1.2 cm   1.5-2.0 cm       Flower disc color   Yellow-green   Yellow-green   Yellow-green       immature   144 B   144 A   151 C       Growth rate   Vigorous   Vigorous   Medium       Peduncle, angle   30°   30°   30°-35°       with the stem       Response time in   50   49   53-54       days