Patent Publication Number: US-PP28732-P3

Title: Catharanthus plant named ‘Suncathamiho’

Description:
Botanical designation:  Catharanthus roseus.    
     Cultivar denomination: ‘Suncathamiho’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of  Catharanthus  plant, which is hereinafter referred to by the name of ‘Suncathamiho’. 
       Catharanthus roseus , which is also known as  Vinca rosea , is a very popular plant that is used for flower bedding and potting in the summer and autumn season. 
     The purpose of this invention is to obtain a new  Catharanthus  cultivar having vigorous, upright plant characteristics, abundant branching, especially basally branching, developed from the base of the plant throughout the growing season, great profusion of single, pale pink flowers, the whole bush remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time and irregularity incised petals, shaped of hastate, incurvated. 
     The new  Catharanthus  plant was originated from a cross-pollination of the female parent ‘MC21-15’ and the male parent ‘MC21-P-2’. The female parent ‘MC21-15’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Suncathamiho’ is a strain of applicant&#39;s breeding lines (i.e., proprietary  Catharanthus roseus  selection), having white petals, and the male parent ‘MC21-P-2’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Suncathamiho’ is a strain of applicant&#39;s breeding lines (i.e., proprietary  Catharanthus roseus  selection), having rotund petal shape. The cross-pollination was conducted in August, 2011 at Yame-gun, Fukuoka, Japan. 
     In February 2012, the seedlings obtained by the crossing were planted in field, and some seedlings were selected in view of growth habit, flower size and color thereof. In August 2012, the stem tip culturing was carried out, and then the propagation was started. 
     In July 2013, the cultivation of the seedlings was repeated. The botanical characteristics of that plant were then examined, using similar varieties ‘Milk crown blushing pink’ and ‘Daiichi-MC21-25’ for comparison. As a result, it was concluded that this  Catharanthus  plant is distinguishable from any other variety, whose existence is currently known, and is uniform and stable in its characteristics. 
     The new variety of  Catharanthus roseus  plant is named ‘Suncathamiho’. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This new variety is unlike any  Catharanthus  plants commercially available as evidenced by the following unique combinations of characteristics.
         1. Vigorous, upright plant characteristics.   2. Abundant branching, especially basally branching, developed from the base of the plant throughout the growing season.   3. Great profusion of single, pale pink flowers, the whole bush remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time.   4. irregularly incised petals, shaped of hastate, incurvated.       

     The new variety ‘Suncathamiho’ differs from the similar variety ‘Milk crown blushing pink’, which was applied for Japanese plant variety protection (the application number: 23662; the application date: 2009 Apr. 2; the registration number 21019; the registration date: 2011 Sep. 8), in the following points.
         1. The petals overlap of ‘Suncathamiho’ is contacting. That of ‘Milk crown blushing pink’ is separating.   2. The secondary color of surface of corolla lobe of ‘Suncathamiho’ is brilliant purplish pink (RHS 62B). That of ‘Milk crown blushing pink’ is RED-PURPLE (RHS 61C).       

     The new variety ‘Suncathamiho’ differs from the similar variety ‘Daiichi-MC21-25’, which was applied for Japanese plant variety protection (the application number: 26287; the application date: 2011 Sep. 8; the registration number 22599; the registration date: 2013 Jul. 29), in the following points.
         1. The main color of surface of corolla lobe of ‘Suncathamiho’ is pale pink (RHS 62D). That of ‘MC21-25’ is purple (RHS N80B).   2. The leaf size (L×W) of ‘Suncathamiho’ is 51 mm×23.3 mm. The leaf size of ‘Daiichi-MC21-25’ is 60 mm×33 mm.   3. The flower eye of ‘Suncathamiho’ is absent. That of ‘Daiichi-MC21-25’ is present.       

     This new variety of  Catharanthus  plant ‘Suncathamiho’ was asexially reproduced by the use of cuttings at Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, and homogeneity and stability thereof were confirmed. The instant plant retains its distinctive characteristics and produces true to type in successive generations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The depicted plants had been reproduced by the use of cuttings and were photographed during October 2013 while growing outdoors in wall pots with about 15 cm of container size at an age of approximately 6 months. 
       The second sheet is a photograph of a typical plant of the new variety of  Catharanthus  plant ‘Suncathamiho’ while growing in a pot. 
       The first sheet is a photograph of a close view of flowers of the new variety of  Catharanthus  plant ‘Suncathamiho’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     In October 2013, the cultivation of the seedlings was repeated at Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The average day temperature was about 25° C., and the average night temperature was about 15° C. The plants were grown under natural sunlight. The number of days to flowering (response time) was about 3 to 4 weeks. The keeping quality was about 180 days. The plants had temperature resistance to about 5° C. (the lowest temperature) and about 35 to 40° C. (the highest temperature). Further, the plants had the same tolerance to pests and pathogens as a typical  Catharanthus  plant. 
     For the parentage information: The female parent ‘MC21-15’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Suncathamiho’ is a strain of applicant&#39;s breeding lines (i.e., proprietary  Catharanthus roseus  selection), having white petals, and the male parent ‘MC21-P-2’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Suncathamiho’ is a strain of applicant&#39;s breeding lines (i.e., proprietary  Catharanthus roseus  selection), having rotund petal shape. 
     For the propagation information: the new cultivar was propagated by cutting; the number of days to initiate roots during the summer was about two weeks; approximate soil and/or air temperature during the summer was around 30° C.; the number of days to initiate roots during the winter was about three weeks; approximate soil and/or air temperature during the winter was around 25° C.; the number of days to produce a rooted young plant during the summer was about five weeks; the number of days to produce a rooted young plant during the winter was about six weeks; root density was moderate; root branching was free; root color was white; and root texture was fibrous. 
     The botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety of  Catharanthus  plant named ‘Suncathamiho’ at an age of approximately 4 months are shown in the following Table. In the following description, the color-coding is in accordance with the Horticultural Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England (R.H.S. Colour Chart The 5th edition 2007). 
     
       
         
           
               
            
               
                   
               
               
                 PLANT VARIETY DESCRIPTION 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 APPLICATION 
               
               
                   
                 VARIETY 
               
               
                 CHARACTERISTIC 
                 Suncathamiho 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ANNUAL, BIENNIAL or PERENNIAL? 
                 Grown as annual. 
               
               
                 TYPE OF PLANT: i.e., TREE, SHRUB, 
                 Potted plant 
               
               
                 SUBSHRUB, VINE, CUT FLOWER, POTTED 
                   
               
               
                 PLANT 
                   
               
               
                 APPROPRIATE CONTAINERS +/or 
                 Ideal for pots, hanging 
               
               
                 CROPPING SYSTEM 
                 baskets. 
               
               
                 GROWTH HABIT 
                 Upright 
               
               
                 PLANT HEIGHT 
                 About 25.0 cm 
               
               
                 PLANT DIAMETER OR AREA OF SPREAD 
                 About 25.0 cm 
               
               
                 PLANT VIGOR 
                 Vigorous 
               
               
                 BRANCHING HABIT 
                 Freely branching 
               
               
                 BASAL BRANCHING? 
                 Present 
               
               
                 PINCHING REQUIRED? 
                 Not required. 
               
               
                 NUMBER OF LATERAL BRANCHES 
                 About 5 
               
               
                 NUMBER OF SECONDARY LATERAL 
                 About 4 
               
               
                 BRANCHES 
                   
               
               
                 LATERAL BRANCH LENGTH 
                 About 17.3 cm 
               
               
                 LATERAL BRANCH DIAMETER 
                 About 3.9 mm 
               
               
                 INTERNODE LENGTH 
                 About 19.9 mm 
               
               
                 STEM ASPECT 
                 Upright to outward 
               
               
                 STEM COLOR (and bark color, if applicable) 
                 RHS Near 144D 
               
               
                 STEM COLOR (if any) 
                 RHS Near 51D 
               
               
                 STEM PUBESCENCE? 
                 Absent 
               
               
                 OTHER PLANT/STEM CHARACTERISTICS 
                 — 
               
               
                 LEAF ARRANGEMENT 
                 Opposite 
               
               
                 COMPOUND OR SIMPLE? 
                 Simple 
               
               
                 QUANTITY OF LEAVES PER LATERAL 
                 About 13 
               
               
                 BRANCH 
                   
               
               
                 LEAF (LEAFLET) SHAPE 
                 Elliptic 
               
               
                 LEAF (LEAFLET) TIP 
                 Acute 
               
               
                 LEAF (LEAFLET) BASE 
                 Obtuse 
               
               
                 LEAF LENGTH 
                 About 51.0 mm 
               
               
                 LEAF WIDTH 
                 About 23.3 mm 
               
               
                 LEAF THICKNESS 
                 About 0.3 mm 
               
               
                 LEAF (LEAFLET) TEXTURE 
                 Pubescent, both sides 
               
               
                 LEAF PUBESCENCE? WHICH SIDE? 
                 Present 
               
               
                 LEAF (LEAFLET) MARGIN 
                 Entire 
               
               
                 VENATION PATTERN 
                 Reticulate venation 
               
               
                 LEAF COLOR, YOUNG, UPPER SIDE 
                 RHS Near 1373 
               
               
                 LEAF COLOR, YOUNG, UNDER SIDE 
                 RHS Near 137D 
               
               
                 LEAF COLOR, MATURE, UPPER SIDE 
                 RHS Near 143A to 
               
               
                   
                 143C 
               
               
                 LEAF COLOR, MATURE, UNDER SIDE 
                 RHS Near 137B 
               
               
                 VENATION COLOR, UPPER SIDE 
                 RHS Near 137D 
               
               
                 VENATION COLOR, UNDER SIDE 
                 RHS Near 142D 
               
               
                 VARIEGATION? 
                 Absent 
               
               
                 PETIOLE? 
                 Present 
               
               
                 PETIOLE LENGTH 
                 About 9.1 mm 
               
               
                 PETIOLE DIAMETER 
                 About 1.6 mm 
               
               
                 PETIOLE TEXTURE 
                 Pubescent 
               
               
                 PETIOLE COLOR 
                 RHS Near 145B 
               
               
                 OTHER FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS 
                 — 
               
               
                 FLOWER ARRANGEMENT 
                 Borne in upper leaf  
               
               
                   
                 axils. 
               
               
                 INFLORESCENCE TYPE OR FORM 
                 Solitary 
               
               
                 (if applicable) 
                   
               
               
                 QUANTITY OF FLOWERS PER PLANT 
                 About 50 
               
               
                 FLOWER TYPE or FORM 
                 Single 
               
               
                 FLOWERING HABIT 
                 Continuously 
               
               
                 NATURAL FLOWERING SEASON 
                 Early summer to late 
               
               
                   
                 autumn 
               
               
                 TIME TO FLOWER OR RESPONSE TIME 
                 About 2~3 weeks 
               
               
                 FRAGRANCE 
                 Absent 
               
               
                 FLOWER BUD LENGTH 
                 About 35.4 mm 
               
               
                 FLOWER BUD DIAMETER 
                 About 5.9 mm 
               
               
                 FLOWER BUD SHAPE 
                 Clavate 
               
               
                 FLOWER BUD COLOR 
                 RHS Near 19C 
               
               
                 FLOWER ASPECT; i.e., UPRIGHT, 
                 Upright 
               
               
                 OUTWARD, DROOPING, etc. 
                   
               
               
                 FLOWER PARACOROLLA 
                 Absent 
               
               
                 FLOWER DIAMETER 
                 About 36.7 mm 
               
               
                 FLOWER DEPTH (HEIGHT) 
                 About 38.3 mm 
               
               
                 FLOWER LONGEVITY ON PLANT 
                 About 2~3 days 
               
               
                 PERSISTENT OR SELF-CLEANING? 
                 Not persistent. 
               
               
                 PETAL TEXTURE, UPPER SURFACE 
                 Smooth 
               
               
                 PETAL TEXTURE, LOWER SURFACE 
                 Smooth 
               
               
                 TUBE TEXTURE 
                 Smooth, slightly 
               
               
                   
                 pubescent 
               
               
                 PETAL ARRANGEMENT 
                 Free 
               
               
                 PETAL NUMBER 
                 5 
               
               
                 PETALS FUSED? 
                 Fused 
               
               
                 PETAL SHAPE 
                 Hastate 
               
               
                 PETAL MARGIN 
                 Absent 
               
               
                 PETAL SHAPE, SYMMETRY OR 
                 Asymmetry 
               
               
                 ASYMMETRY? 
                   
               
               
                 PETAL TIP 
                 irregularly incised 
               
               
                 PETAL BASE 
                 Fused 
               
               
                 PETAL LENGTH 
                 About 20.8 mm 
               
               
                 PETAL WIDTH 
                 About 12.1 mm 
               
               
                 PETAL COLOR, WHEN OPENING, 
                 RHS Near 62D 
               
               
                 UPPER SIDE 
                   
               
               
                 PETAL COLOR, WHEN OPENING, 
                 RHS Near 65D 
               
               
                 LOWER SIDE 
                   
               
               
                 PETAL COLOR, FULLY OPENED, 
                 RHS Near 62D 
               
               
                 UPPER SIDE 
                   
               
               
                 PETAL COLOR, FULLY OPENED, 
                 RHS Near 65D 
               
               
                 LOWER SIDE 
                   
               
               
                 PETAL SECONDARY COLOR, 
                 RHS Near 62B 
               
               
                 UPPER SIDE 
                   
               
               
                 DISTRIBUTION OF PETAL 
                 Gradating from base 
               
               
                 SECONDARY COLOR, UPPER SIDE 
                 to mid-section. 
               
               
                 RATE OF PETAL SECONDARY 
                 Few 
               
               
                 COLOR, UPPER SIDE 
                   
               
               
                 FLOWER EYE 
                 Absent 
               
               
                 FLOWER EYE DIAMETER 
                 — 
               
               
                 FLOWER EYE COLOR 
                 — 
               
               
                 RECEPTACLE 
                 Present 
               
               
                 RECEPTACLE COLOR 
                 RHS Near 3C 
               
               
                 TUBE DIAMETER 
                 About 1.8 mm 
               
               
                 TUBE LENGTH 
                 About 26.2 mm 
               
               
                 THROAT COLOR (inside) 
                 RHS Near 145C 
               
               
                 TUBE COLOR (outside) 
                 RHS Near 145A to 
               
               
                   
                 145B Base: with 
               
               
                   
                 anthocyanin 
               
               
                   
                 pigmentation 
               
               
                 SEPAL ARRANGEMENT 
                 Single whorl 
               
               
                 NUMBER OF SEPALS 
                 5 
               
               
                 SEPAL SHAPE 
                 Linear-triangular 
               
               
                 SEPAL MARGIN 
                 Entire 
               
               
                 SEPAL TIP 
                 Acute 
               
               
                 SEPAL BASE 
                 Fused 
               
               
                 SEPAL LENGTH 
                 About 3.3 mm 
               
               
                 SEPAL WIDTH 
                 About 1.1 mm 
               
               
                 SEPAL COLOR, IMMATURE, UPPER SIDE 
                 RHS Near 144A 
               
               
                 SEPAL COLOR, IMMATURE, UNDER 
                 RHS Near 144A 
               
               
                 SIDE 
                   
               
               
                 SEPAL COLOR, MATURE, UPPER SIDE 
                 RHS Near 144A 
               
               
                 SEPAL COLOR, MATURE, UNDER SIDE 
                 RHS Near 144A 
               
               
                 CALYX SHAPE 
                 Star shape 
               
               
                 CALYX LENGTH 
                 About 4.5 mm 
               
               
                 CALYX DIAMETER 
                 About 5.1 mm 
               
               
                 PEDUNCLE LENGTH 
                 About 3.5 mm 
               
               
                 PEDUNCLE DIAMETER 
                 About 1.6 mm 
               
               
                 PEDUNCLE ANGLE 
                 Upright 
               
               
                 PEDUNCLE TEXTURE 
                 Smooth 
               
               
                 PEDUNCLE COLOR 
                 RHS Near 144C 
               
               
                 STAMEN NUMBER 
                 5 
               
               
                 STAMEN LENGTH 
                 About 2.6 mm 
               
               
                 ANTHER SHAPE 
                 Narrow elliptic 
               
               
                 ANTHER SIZE (L) 
                 About 2.5 mm 
               
               
                 ANTHER SIZE (W) 
                 About 1.1 mm 
               
               
                 ANTHER COLOR 
                 RHS Near 8D 
               
               
                 AMOUNT OF POLLEN 
                 Few 
               
               
                 POLLEN COLOR 
                 RHS Near 4D 
               
               
                 PISTIL NUMBER 
                 1 
               
               
                 PISTIL LENGTH 
                 About 17.7 mm 
               
               
                 STIGMA SHAPE 
                 Transversely 
               
               
                   
                 ellipsoidal 
               
               
                 STIGMA COLOR 
                 RHS Near 145A 
               
               
                 STYLE COLOR 
                 RHS Near 145C 
               
               
                 OVARY COLOR 
                 RHS Near 145B 
               
               
                 OTHER FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS 
                 — 
               
               
                 QUANTITY OF SEEDS 
                 Seed production has 
               
               
                   
                 not been observed. 
               
               
                 ROOT STRUCTURES such as BULBS, 
                 Fibrous root 
               
               
                 CORMS or RHIZOMES? 
                   
               
               
                 LOW TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE 
                 Around 5° C. 
               
               
                 HIGH TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE 
                 Around 35° C.~40° C. 
               
               
                 DISEASE RESISTANCE AND/OR 
                 Normal 
               
               
                 SUSCEPTIBILITY 
                   
               
               
                 RESISTANCE OF PESTS AND/OR 
                 Normal 
               
               
                 SUSCEPTIBILITY 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     This new variety of  Catharanthus  plant having the above botanical characteristics is suitable for flower bedding and potting, particularly in hanging pots or planters.