Patent Publication Number: US-PP16221-P3

Title: Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Redock Dark’

Description:
RELATED CULTIVARS 
   ‘Redock Dark’ is related to ‘Redock Orange’ (pending appln. Ser. No. 09/910,030) and ‘Redock Salmon’ (pending appln. Ser. No. 09/910,027). These varieties are all mutants of the original ‘Redock’ (unpatented). 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   ‘Redock Dark’ is a product of a breeding and selection program which had the objective of finding color mutants of ‘Redock’. The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of  chrysanthemum  plant that is a natural occurring sport of a parent  chrysanthemum  named ‘Redock’ (unpatented). A comparison with parent  chrysanthemum  ‘Redock’ is also made in this application. The new cultivar was discovered as a whole plant mutation in September, 1999 by Rob Noodelijk in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout, Holland. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Redock Dark’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in November, 1999 in Rijsenhout, Holland. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a new and distinct variety of  chrysanthemum  bearing medium sized blooms with pink ray-florets and yellow-green disc florets. 

   
     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 foliage of the 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, 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 47 days. After the long day period to flowering, growth retardants were applied 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 pink ray-florets and yellow-green disc-florets blooming on the plant for 4 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 ‘Redock Dark’ 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 ‘Redock Dark’ is ‘Redock’. When ‘Redock’ and ‘Redock Dark’ are being compared the following differences and similarities are noticed: The difference of ‘Redock’ and ‘Redock Dark’ is the darker pink ray-floret color for which characteristics ‘Redock Dark’ has been selected out of ‘Redock’. All other characteristics of ‘Redock’ and ‘Redock Dark’ are similar. From other commercial varieties ‘Dark Reagan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,966) and ‘Blue Pink Elite Reagan’ (not patented yet) are the most similar. The differences between ‘Dark Reagan’, ‘Blue Pink Elite Reagan’ and ‘Redock Dark’ are (1) Flower form and color. The ray-florets of ‘Redock Dark’ are more upright, less broad, more pointed and more concave. The ray-floret color of ‘Redock Dark’ is slightly more red. (2) Vigour. Under the same circumstances the plants of ‘Redock Dark’ are 20 cm longer. (3) Response time. The response time of ‘Redock Dark’ is shorter. (4) The disc-floret size of ‘Redock Dark’ is smaller. (5) Foliage size and color. The foliage of ‘Redock Dark’ is bigger and more yellow-green. 
   The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Redock Dark’ 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, 1995 edition. 
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
               TABLE 1 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Botanical Description of 
             
             
               CULTIVAR ‘Redock Dark’ 
             
             
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
               Bud 
                 
             
             
               Size 
               Small, cross-section 0.7 cm 
             
             
                 
               height 0.9 cm 
             
             
               Outside Color 
               Red-purple 73 D 
             
             
               Involucral bracts 
               3 rows, length 8 mm, width 3 mm 
             
             
               Involucral bracts among disc-florets 
               Not present 
             
             
               Involucral bracts color 
               Green 147 B 
             
             
               Bloom 
             
             
               Type 
               Single 
             
             
               Height 
               High 
             
             
               Size 
               Medium 
             
             
               Fully Expanded 
               7.0 cm 
             
             
               Number of blooms per single stem 
               Average of 14 
             
             
               Seeds 
               Not produced 
             
             
               Performance (blooming period) 
               4 weeks 
             
             
               Fragrance 
               Typical  chrysanthemum   
             
             
               Color 
             
             
               Center of the flower (disc-florets) 
               Immature yellow-green 144 A 
             
             
                 
               Mature yellow-green 151 C 
             
             
               Color of upper surface of the major- 
               Red-purple 74 D 
             
             
               ity of the ray-florets 
             
             
               Color of the lower surface of the 
               Red-purple 73 D 
             
             
               majority of the ray-florets 
             
             
               Tonality from Distance 
               A spray mum with pink flowers 
             
             
                 
               and a yellow-green disc 
             
             
               Discoloration to color 
               To color 73 D 
             
             
               Ray florets 
             
             
               Texture 
               Upper and under side smooth 
             
             
               Number 
               26-28 
             
             
               Cross-section 
               Strongly concave 
             
             
               Longitudinal axis of majority 
               Reflexing 
             
             
               Length of corolla tube 
               Short 
             
             
               Ray-floret length 
               3.3 cm 
             
             
               Ray-floret width 
               1.0 cm 
             
             
               Ratio length/width 
               Medium 
             
             
               Shape of tip 
               Pointed, very occasionally round 
             
             
               Disc florets 
             
             
               Disc diameter 
               0.8-1.0 cm 
             
             
               Distribution of disc florets 
               Numerous, clearly visible at all 
             
             
                 
               stages of flowering 
             
             
               Shape 
               Tubular 
             
             
               Color 
               Yellow-green 144 A 
             
             
               Receptacle shape 
               Conical raised 
             
             
               Reproductive Organs 
             
             
               Stamen (present in disc florets only) 
               Thin 3 mm in length 
             
             
               Stamen color 
               Yellow-green 144 B 
             
             
               Pollen 
               No pollen present 
             
             
               Pollen color 
               Not applicable 
             
             
               Styles (present in both ray and disc 
               Thin 
             
             
               florets) 
             
             
               Style color 
               Yellow-green 144 B 
             
             
               Style Length 
               4 mm 
             
             
               Stigma color 
               Yellow-green 144 B 
             
             
               Stigma Width 
               2 mm 
             
             
               Ovaries 
               Enclosed in calyx 
             
             
               Plant 
             
             
               Form 
               A spray mum meant for erect 
             
             
                 
               culture 
             
             
               Growth habit 
               Upright 
             
             
               Growth rate 
               Very vigorous 
             
             
               Height 
               125-135 cm 
             
             
               Internodes 
               2.5-3.0 cm 
             
             
               Spray formation 
               Corymbiform 
             
             
               Stem color 
               Yellow-green 147 B 
             
             
               Stem strength 
               Medium 
             
             
               Stem brittleness 
               Present 
             
             
               Stem anthocyanin coloration 
               Absent 
             
             
               Peduncle length 
               Near the top 16 cm, near the mid- 
             
             
                 
               dle 23 cm, near the bottom 28 cm 
             
             
               Peduncle color 
               Green 147 B 
             
             
               Peduncle, attachment 
               Brittle 
             
             
               Peduncle, angle with stem 
               Small, 30° C. 
             
             
               Flowering Response(photo-periodic 
               47 days 
             
             
               controlled crop, not natural season) 
             
             
               Foliage 
             
             
               Color 
               Upper side yellow-green 147 A 
             
             
                 
               Under side green 138 B 
             
             
               Size 
               large; length 12.0-14.0 cm, 
             
             
                 
               width 7.0-8.0 cm 
             
             
               Quantity (number per single stem) 
               30-34 
             
             
               Shape 
               Ovate and deeply lobed 
             
             
               Texture upper side 
               Fleshy and glabrous 
             
             
               Texture under side 
               Pubescent 
             
             
               Ribs and veins upper side 
               Ribs and veins well developed 
             
             
               Ribs and veins under side 
               Ribs and veins well developed 
             
             
               Venation arrangement 
               Palmate 
             
             
               Shape of the margin 
               Lobed 
             
             
               Shape of Base of Sinus Between 
               Round 
             
             
               Lateral Lobes 
             
             
               Margin of Sinus Between Lateral 
               Converging 
             
             
               Lobes 
             
             
               Shape of Base 
               Rounded 
             
             
               Apex 
               Mucronate 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
               TABLE 2 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
             
               Differences with the comparison Varieties 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
             
          
             
                 
                 
                 
                 
               ‘Blue Pink 
             
             
                 
               ‘Redock 
                 
               ‘Dark 
               Elite 
             
             
                 
               Dark’ 
               ‘Redock’ 
               Reagan’ 
               Reagan’ 
             
             
                 
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
             
          
             
               Ray-floret color 
               Red-purple 
               Purple 
               Red-purple 
               Purple 
             
             
                 
               74 D 
               75 A 
               69 B 
               75 C 
             
             
               Flower height 
               High 
               High 
               Flat 
               Flat 
             
             
               Cross-section 
               Strongly 
               Strongly 
               flat 
               Flat 
             
             
               of ray-floret 
               concave 
               concave 
             
             
               Vigour 
               Very 
               Very 
               Vigorous 
               Vigorous 
             
             
                 
               vigorous 
               vigorous 
             
             
               Plant height 
               125-135 cm 
               125- 
               100-125 cm 
               105- 
             
             
                 
                 
               135 cm 
                 
               130 cm