Petunia plant named 'Sakpet098'

Abstract

A petunia plant particularly distinguished by having a reddish-purple and white star-patterned flower color and green leaves, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of petunia plant named ‘SAKPET098’ as described and illustrated herein.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0008] This Petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photographs are of a plant grown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

[0009] FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

[0010] FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

[0011] Data was obtained from plants grown six-months from transplant into 8-inch pots from rooted cuttings in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions. Plants were pinched once during growth. Color references are to The Royal Horticultural Society of London color chart (R.H.S.), 4.sup.th edition (2001). Anatomic labels are from The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms, by M. Hickey and C. King, Cambridge University Press. [0012] Classification: [0013] Family.—Solanaceae. [0014] Botanical.—Petunia hybrida. [0015] Common.—Petunia. [0016] Designation.—‘SAKPET098’. [0017] Growth: [0018] Environmental conditions for plant growth.—The terminal 1.0 to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The vegetative cuttings were propagated for five to six weeks. The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a 1:9 solution of DIP 'N GROW (1 solution: 9 water) root inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and grown in 20 cm diameter plastic pots in a glass greenhouse located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based growing medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or every other day by overhead irrigation. Pots were top-dressed with a dry, slow release fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 18% potassium. The typical average air temperature was 24° C. [0019] Parentage: [0020] Female parent.—The proprietary petunia line ‘9BCR-49a’ (unpatented). [0021] Male parent.—The proprietary petunia line ‘9BCR-27-V2’. [0022] Plant description: [0023] Habit.—Mounding and semi-trailing. [0024] Height.—About 22.5 cm from the soil line to the top of the foliage. [0025] Spread.—About 44.0 cm. [0026] Number of branches per plant.—About 10 main basal branches; many secondary and tertiary branches. [0027] Length of branches.—17.0 cm to 20.0 cm. [0028] Diameter of branches.—3.0 mm. [0029] Life cycle.—Annual; tender perennial in some climates. [0030] Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 4 weeks. [0031] Time to bloom from propagation.—6 to 8 weeks. [0032] Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as the temperature is above 13° C. and greater than 12 hours of daylight. [0033] Temperature tolerances.—No particular temperature tolerances observed. [0034] Stems: [0035] Color.—Closest to RHS 143A (Green). [0036] Anthocyanin.—Absent. [0037] Pubescence.—Dense (heavy). [0038] Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (White). [0039] Description and appearance.—Pliable; circular in cross-section. [0040] Length.—About 13.5 cm. [0041] Diameter.—2.0 mm. [0042] Internode length.—About 1.5 cm. [0043] Leaves: [0044] Arrangement.—Alternate. [0045] Shape.—Ovate. [0046] Apex.—Obtuse. [0047] Base.—Attenuate. [0048] Margin.—Entire. [0049] Attachment.—Sessile. [0050] Surface appearance (both surfaces).—Dull, waxy, and sticky with slight to moderate pubescence. [0051] Length.—2.5 cm. [0052] Width.—1.3 cm. [0053] Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A (Green) Lower surface: Closest to RHS 147C (Yellow-green). [0054] Venation pattern.—Pinnate. [0055] Venation color (both surfaces).—RHS 144B (Yellow-green). [0056] Fragrance.—Absent. [0057] Petiole.—Absent. [0058] Flowers: [0059] Number of flowers in bloom.—90 to 100. [0060] Number of flowers per node.—1. [0061] Inflorescence type.—Single. [0062] Fragrance.—Absent. [0063] Flower depth.—About 3.5 cm. [0064] Flower diameter.—5.8 cm. [0065] Corolla: [0066] Shape.—Funnel-shaped with five fused petals. [0067] Diameter.—5.8 cm. [0068] Depth.—6.0 mm. [0069] Petals.—Surface texture (both surfaces): Glabrous Length: 2.8 cm Width: 3.0 cm Shape: Obcordate Apex: Abruptly acute Margin: Entire Color: Upper surface: Closest to RHS N78A (Purple) and RHS N155C (White) with RHS N79A (Purple) at the mid-vein Lower surface: Closest to RHS 77A (Purple) and RHS N155C (White). [0070] Corolla tube.—Tube length: 2.5 cm Tube diameter: 1.0 cm Tube pubescence (both surfaces): Dense pubescence Tube pubescence color: RHS N155A (White) Color, inner surface: RHS 79A (Purple) with RHS N155C (White) and a slight RHS 145A (Yellow-green) Color, outer surface: Closest to but darker than RHS 79B (Purple) with RHS 79A (Purple) veins on most, some alternate colors with RHS 79A (Purple) and RHS 145C (Yellow-green) with RHS 145A (Yellow-green) veins. [0071] Calyx: [0072] Form.—Composed of 5 sepals. [0073] Attachment.—Sessile. [0074] Apex.—Obtuse. [0075] Base.—Attenuate. [0076] Margin.—Entire. [0077] Length.—1.6 cm. [0078] Width.—3.0 mm [0079] Color.—Upper surface: Closest to RHS 138A (Green) Lower surface: Closest to RHS 144A (Yellow-green). [0080] Bud: [0081] Surface texture and appearance.—Dull, sticky, with heavy pubescence; pubescence color is RHS N155A (White). [0082] Length.—3.8 cm. [0083] Diameter.—6.0 mm. [0084] Shape.—Cylindrical. [0085] Color.—RHS N92A (Violet-blue) at the center; RHS N187A (Greyed-purple) at the tip; slight RHS 144D and RHS 157A at the tip. [0086] Peduncle: [0087] Length.—1.7 cm to 2.3 cm. [0088] Diameter.—1.5 mm. [0089] Color.—RHS 143C (Yellow-green) with heavy pubescence; pubescence color is RHS N155A (White) with very slight RHS N187A (Greyed-purple) towards the flower bud. [0090] Reproductive organs: [0091] Stamens.—Form: Arranged adjacent to the pistil Number: 5, free Length: 2.5 cm to 2.8 cm Filament color: RHS 145D (Yellow-green) with RHS 155C (White) Anther color: RHS 279C (Grey) Pollen color: RHS 97B (Violet-blue) Pollen description: Powdery; abundant. [0092] Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: 2.5 cm Stigma color: RHS 79C (Purple) Stigma length: 2.0 mm Style color: RHS 145D (Yellow-green) Style length: 2.3 cm Ovary arrangement: Superior Ovary surface color: RHS 143C (Green). [0093] Seed production.—Not observed. [0094] Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or susceptibility observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND SIMILAR VARIETY

[0095] ‘SAKPET098’ can be compared with the parental lines, as shown in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘SAKPET098’ ‘9BCR-49a’ ‘9BCR-27-V2’ Flower color Reddish-purple Blue and white star- Red and white star- patterned bi-colored patterned flowers flowers Plant growth Mounding and Semi-mounding Mounding habit semi-trailing

[0096] ‘SAKPET098’ can be compared with the similar commercial variety ‘SAKPET096’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,309) as shown in Table 2.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘SAKPET098’ ‘SAKPET096’ Petal color, Closest to RHS N78A RHS N74A (Red-Purple), upper surface (Purple) and RHS N155C RHS N74B (Red-Purple) (White) with RHS N79A and RHS N155A (White) (Purple) at mid-vein with RHS 77A (Purple) at the mid-vein Petal color, Closest to RHS 77A RHS N74C (Red-Purple) lower surface (Purple) and RHS N155C with RHS N77A (Purple) at (White) the mid-vein Flower diameter 5.8 cm 4.5 cm Plant habit Mounding and semi-trailing Mounding