A new and distinct cultivar of caladium plant named ‘Fiesta’, characterized by its compact mounding growth habit, fancy-type heart-shaped leaves that have a large white center, multiple red to greyed purple mid and primary veins, netted greyed-purple secondary veins, and bright red coloration along the mid and primary veins, and relatively dwarf plants that are attractive in containers and perform well in sunny landscapes.
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This invention was made with government support under FLA-BRA-04162 awarded by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, USDA and under FLA-GCR-005065 awarded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA. The government has certain rights in the invention.
Genus and species: Caladium×hortulanum.
Cultivar denomination: ‘Fiesta’.
n/a
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referred to as a fancy leaf-type caladium, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fiesta’.
Caladiums (also referred to as Caladium plants) are ornamental aroids frequently used as pot and landscape plants for their colorful foliage and ease of growing. The objective of the Inventors' breeding program is to create new Caladium cultivars that have compact growth habit, numerous leaves, attractive foliage, and exceptional container and landscape performance.
The new Caladium cultivar ‘Fiesta’ originated from a cross between ‘Florida Cardinal’ (commercial cultivar, not patented) and ‘Florida Sweetheart’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,526) that was made in Bradenton, Fla., in spring 2003. The new Caladium cultivar ‘Fiesta’ was discovered and selected by the inventors as a single plant in Wimauma, Fla. in 2005. The Caladium cultivar ‘Fiesta’ has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through at least nine generations of successive asexual propagations via tuber divisions since 2004.
Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar have not been applied for. ‘Fiesta’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.
The new Caladium cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, water status, fertilizer rate and type, without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new Caladium cultivar when grown under (normal or standard) horticultural practices in Wimauma, Fla. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes ‘Fiesta’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium:
The new cultivar ‘Fiesta’ differs from its female parent, ‘Florida Cardinal’, in the following characteristics:
The new cultivar ‘Fiesta’ differs from its male parent, ‘Florida Sweetheart’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,526), in the following characteristics:
The new Caladium cultivar ‘Fiesta’ can also be compared to the Caladium cultivar ‘Florida Fantasy’, an unpatented commercial cultivar. In side-by-side comparisons of pot-grown plants conducted in Wimauma, Fla., plants of the new Caladium cultivar differed from plants of ‘Florida Fantasy’ caladium in the following characteristics:
The new Caladium cultivar ‘Fiesta’ can also be compared to the Caladium cultivar ‘White Queen’, an unpatented, old commercial cultivar. In side-by-side comparisons of pot-grown plants conducted in Wimauma, Fla., plants of the new Caladium cultivar differed from plants of ‘White Queen’ caladium in the following characteristics:
The new Caladium cultivar ‘Fiesta’ can also be compared to the Caladium cultivar ‘UF-48-5’, a patented cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,327). In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Wimauma, Fla., plants of the new Caladium cultivar differed from plants of ‘UF-48-5’ caladium in the following characteristics:
The accompanying photographs (as shown in
In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, 1986 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The features of ‘Fiesta’ described herein are shown in
The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 20.3-cm containers in Wimauma, Fla., during the summer in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse. All plants were grown under conditions and practices similar to those generally used in commercial Caladium production.
During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from approximately 75° F. to 92° F., night temperatures ranged from approximately 66.5° F. to 76.1° F., and the light level was approximately 30% reduced in the shadehouse. Plants grown in the shadehouse were approximately seven weeks from planting tubers when the photographs and the detailed description were taken.
The new cultivar ‘Fiesta’ was evaluated for tuber production at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Fla. in 2007 and 2009. The soil was EauGallie fine sand with about 1% organic matter and a pH value between 6.2 and 7.4. Caladium plants were grown in the field using a plastic-mulched raised-bed system. For the 2007 evaluation, ground beds (81 cm wide, 20 cm high) were fumigated on 3 April with a mixture of 67% methyl bromide and 33% chloropicrin (by volume) at the rate of 196 kg·ha−1. Caladium seed pieces (tuber pieces, approximately 2.5×2.5×2.5 cm) were planted manually on 26 April with approximately 25.4 cm between-row spacing and approximately 15.2 cm in-row spacing. Drip tapes were buried under the plastic mulch and delivered approximately 6 mm of water to the bed per day. Fertigation (through the drip irrigation system) began when young caladium plants emerged from the soil, supplying soluble fertilizer (6N-0.8P-3.9K) at the rate of approximately 1.9 kg of nitrogen·ha−1·day−1 and a total 290 kg of nitrogen·ha−1 per growing season. Tubers (new crop) were dug, washed, and dried in early January 2008. Dried tubers from each experimental field plot were weighed, graded, and counted in late January 2008. Tuber grading was by the tuber maximum diameter: Super Mammoth (greater than 11.4 cm), Mammoth (8.9 to 11.4 cm), Jumbo (6.4 to 8.9 cm), No.1 (3.8 to 6.4 cm), and No. 2 (2.5 to 3.8 cm). Tuber grades and counts were converted into a Production Index (PI) to show the relative economic value of the harvested tubers per field plot: PI=8n(Supper Mammoth)+6n(Mammoth)+4n(Jumbo)+2n(No.1)+1n(No.2), where n=number of tubers in the grade. The relative values assigned to the five tuber grades in calculating PIs were based on the relative market prices provided by Florida caladium tuber producers.
For the 2009 evaluation, beds were fumigated on 27 February with a mixture of 50% methyl bromide and 50% chloropicrin (by volume) at the rate of 196 kg·ha−1. Caladium seed pieces were planted on 9 Apr. 2009 at approximately 15-cm spacing between rows and in rows. The irrigation and fertigation system was the same as the one used in 2007, but one teaspoon (approximately seven grams) of OSMOCOTE® controlled-release fertilizer (15N-2.6P-10K, 5-6 months) was applied to each plant on 21 July. Tubers were dug from 30 Nov. to 2 Dec. 2009, followed by washing, drying, weighing, grading, and counting as was done in 2007.
Field plots were arranged each season in three randomized complete blocks, and each plot (1.2 m2) was planted with 30 caladium seed pieces. Two commercial cultivars, ‘Florida Fantasy’ and ‘White Queen’, were included as controls in each block. Analyses of variance were conducted using the PROC GLM procedure in SAS (SAS Institute, Cary, N.C.) to compare the tuber yields of ‘Fiesta’ to that of ‘Florida Fantasy’ and ‘White Queen’.
Table 1 shows the tuber weight, marketable tubers, production index, and grade distribution of the new cultivar ‘Fiesta’ grown in Wimauma, Fla. in 2007 and 2009, as compared to those of ‘Florida Fantasy’ and ‘White Queen’. Values presented for each year are means of three plots in three randomized complete blocks.
TABLE 1
Tuber
Weight
Marketable
Production
Cultivars
(kg)
(no.)
indexz
Year 2007
Fiesta
8.2 ns
59.0 ns
221.0 ns
Florida Fantasy
4.2 ns
52.1 ns
142.2 ns
White Queen
4.7 ns
50.9 ns
166.4 ns
Year 2009
Fiesta
2.6 ns
26.3 ns
80.3 ns
Florida Fantasy
2.3 ns
27.0 ns
69.3 ns
White Queen
2.3 ns
20.3 ns
64.0 ns
Tuber grade distribution (%)
Super
Mam-
Cultivars
Mammoth
moth
Jumbo
No. 1
No. 2
Year 2007
Fiesta
6.6 ay
21.5 ns
27.8 ns
31.3 ns
12.9 ns
Florida Fantasy
1.9 b
9.4 ns
23.4 ns
41.4 ns
24.0 ns
White Queen
0.6 b
12.4 ns
41.9 ns
33.9 ns
11.3 ns
Year 2009
Fiesta
0 ns
13.9 ns
36.7 ns
25.4 b
24.0 ns
Florida Fantasy
0 ns
8.9 ns
23.5 ns
42.1 a
25.5 ns
White Queen
1.7 ns
10.3 ns
38.6 ns
36.5 ab
13.0 ns
zThe production index is an indicator of economic value of the crop harvested and is calculated as: N (No.2s) + 2N (No. 1s) + 4N (Jumbos) + 6N (Mammoth) + 8N (Super Mammoth); where N = number of tubers in each grade. Tubers graded by maximum diameter; No. 2 (2.5 to 3.8 cm), No. 1 (3.8 to 6.4 cm), Jumbo (6.4 to 8.9 cm), Mammoth (8.9 to 11.4 cm), and Super Mammoth ( >11.4 cm).
yMean values with the same letters within columns are not significantly different at P ≦ 0.05.
ns: not significantly different at P < 0.05.
As shown in Table 1, the tuber weight, marketable number of tubers, and production indexes of the new cultivar ‘Fiesta’ were not significantly different from those of ‘Florida Fantasy’ and ‘White Queen’ in 2007 and 2009: tubers per plot weighed between 4.2 and 8.2 kg in 2007 and between 2.3 and 2.6 kg in 2009; number of marketable tubers was between 50.9 and 59.0 in 2007 and between 20.3 and 27.0 in 2009; production indexes were between 142.2 and 221.0 in 2007 and between 64.0 and 80.3 in 2009. The tuber size distribution of ‘Fiesta’, ‘Florida Fantasy’, and ‘White Queen’ was also not significantly different, except that ‘Florida Fantasy’ produced more No. 1-grade tubers than ‘Fiesta’.
Table 2 shows a comparison of the plant height, number of leaves, leaf length, and leaf width of the new cultivar ‘Fiesta’ with ‘Florida Fantasy’, and ‘White Queen’, approximately 4 months after planting 2.54-cm tuber pieces (propagules) in ground beds in full sun in 2007 and 2009. Values presented are means of data from three replications and three plants measured per plot per year over two years.
TABLE 2
Plant height
Leaves
Leaf lengthz
Leaf widthy
Cultivars
(cm)
(no.)
(cm)
(cm)
Fiesta
31.9 ns
22.0 a
22.4 b
17.6 ns
Florida Fantasy
38.3 ns
21.5 a
28.7 a
18.0 ns
White Queen
34.8 ns
13.6 b
28.9 a
18.3 ns
zLeaf length was measured on the largest leaves along the longest line from the leaf lobe to the leaf tip.
yLeaf width was measured on the largest leaves across the widest middle part.
xMean values with the same letters within columns arc not significantly different at P ≦ 0.05.
ns: not significantly different at P ≦ 0.05.
As shown in Table 2, Plants of the new cultivar ‘Fiesta’ and ‘Florida Fantasy’ had similar numbers of leaves per plant (22.0 and 21.5). Their leaves were similar in width (17.6 and 18.0 cm), but had different lengths (22.4 cm and 28.7 cm, respectively). Compared to plants of ‘White Queen’, plants of ‘Fiesta’ had 63% more leaves and leaves were 6.5 cm shorter.
Table 3 shows the landscape performance of the new cultivar ‘Fiesta’ with ‘Florida Fantasy’ and ‘White Queen’ when planted in ground beds in full sun in 2007 and 2009. Values presented are means of three replications in each year.
Landscape performance was evaluated on the same plots used for evaluating tuber production. A scale of 1 to 5 was used with 1 being very poor (few leaves and lack of vigor), and 5 being excellent (full plants, numerous leaves, and bright color display). Leaf sun tolerance was evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being very susceptible to sunburn (leaves having numerous sun-dainaged areas or holes) and 5 being resistant to sunburn (no visible sun-damaged areas). Three to four evaluations were conducted in each growing season for plant performance and sunburn tolerance. Evaluations were done in July, August, and September 2007, and August, September, and October in 2009.
TABLE 3
2007
2009
Sep-
Sep-
Cultivars
July
August
tember
August
tember
October
Fiesta
4.1z a
3.3 ns
2.7 ns
3.2 ns
4.3 ns
4.2 ns
Florida Fantasy
2.9 b
3.4 ns
3.1 ns
3.7 ns
4.3 ns
4.2 ns
White Queen
3.3 ab
3.5 ns
3.6 ns
3.2 ns
3.8 ns
3.8 ns
zPlants were rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being very poor, 3 fair and acceptable, and 5 being excellent in plant vigor, fullness, and color display, on 27 July, 28 August, and 15 September 2007, and 12 August, 15 September, and 8 October 2009. Mean values with the same letters within columns are not significantly different at P ≦ 0.05.
NS: Not significantly different at P ≦ 0.05.
As shown in Table 3, plants of ‘Fiesta’, ‘Florida Fantasy’, and ‘White Queen’ performed similarly in both 2007 and 2009 growing seasons, with similar performance ratings (2.7 to 4.3) in two of the three evaluations in 2007 and in all three evaluations in 2009. In one evaluation (July 2007), ‘Fiesta’ received a higher rating (4.1) than ‘Florida Fantasy’ (2.9).
Table 4 shows the leaf sunburn tolerance of ‘Fiesta’ with ‘Florida Fantasy’ and ‘White Queen’ when tuber pieces were planted in ground beds and plants were grown in full sun in 2007 and 2009. Values presented arc means of three replications in each year.
Leaf sun burn tolerance was evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being very susceptible to sun burns (leaves having numerous sun-damaged areas or holes) and 5 being resistant to sunburn (no visible sun-damaged areas). A total of nine evaluations were conducted for plant performance over three growing seasons in July, August, and September 2007, and August, September, and October 2009.
TABLE 4
2007
2009
Cultivars
July
August
September
August
September
October
Fiesta
4.0z ns
4.6 ns
4.2 ab
4.3 ns
4.5 ns
4.3 ns
Florida
3.8 ns
4.3 ns
4.0 b
4.0 ns
4.5 ns
3.8 ns
Fantasy
White
3.5 ns
4.8 ns
4.6 a
4.8 ns
5.0 ns
4.5 ns
Queen
zPlant sunburn tolerance was rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being very poor, 3 fair and acceptable, and 5 being excellent without showing any signs of leaf burns or holes caused by sunburn on leaf surfaces, on 27 July, 28 August, and 15 September 2007, and 12 August, 15 September, and 8 October 2009.
yMean values with the same letters within columns are not significantly different at P ≦ 0.05.
ns: Not significantly different at P ≦ 0.05.
As shown in Table 4, plants of ‘Fiesta’ showed excellent sunburn tolerances in both 2007 and 2009 growing seasons, with sunburn tolerance ratings between 4.0 and 4.6 in all six evaluations. Plants of ‘Florida Fantasy’ and ‘White Queen’ received similar sunburn tolerance ratings (3.8 to 4.5 for ‘Florida Fantasy’ and 3.5 to 5.0 for ‘White Queen’.
The suitability of ‘Fiesta’ for pot plant production was evaluated by forcing tubers in 11.4-cm containers in spring 2008. Intact No. 1-sized tubers (>3.8 cm and <6.4 cm in diameter) were planted in a peat/vermiculite mix (VerGro Container Mix A, Verlite, Tampa, Fla.) on 17 Apr. 2008. The study was conducted in a greenhouse with 45% light exclusion. Average daily temperatures in the greenhouse ranged from a low of 16° C. at night to 29° C. during the day during the experiment. Potted plants were arranged on metal benches in the greenhouse in a randomized complete block design with eight replications. Plant height, plant width, number of leaves, and foliar characteristics were recorded on 12 Jun. 2008, 8 weeks after planting. Quality of the potted Caladium plants was rated on a scale of 1 to 5, 1=very poor, few leaves, totally unacceptable as potted plants, and 5=very attractive, with many bright, colorful leaves, a full plant, a symmetrical shape, and an appropriate height.
Table 5 shows a comparison of number of days to sprout, plant height, plant width, leaf number, leaf length, leaf width, and quality rating of ‘Fiesta’ with ‘Florida Fantasy’ and ‘White Queen’ when intact and de-eyed tubers were forced in containers in spring 2008.
TABLE 5
Days to sproutz
Plant height (cm)
Cultivars
Intact
De-eye
Intact
De-eye
Fiesta
22 b
23 b
20.3 b
18.6 b
Florida Fantasy
35 a
30 a
22.9 b
21.5 b
White Queen
34 a
30 a
32.0 a
29.1 a
Leaves (no.)
Leaf length (cm)
Cultivars
Intact
De-eye
Intact
De-eye
Fiesta
14.9 a
32.8 a
27.1 ab
20.3 b
Florida Fantasy
14.4 a
20.6 b
24.8 b
23.0 a
White Queen
8.1 b
11.4 c
29.4 a
23.6 a
Leaf width (cm)
Quality rating
Cultivars
Intact
De-eye
Intact
De-eye
Fiesta
21.7 a
14.6 b
2.4 b
4.0 a
Florida Fantasy
17.7 b
16.3 ab
3.0 a
3.7 a
White Queen
21.9 a
18.1 a
1.9 c
2.8 b
zNumber of days from planting to the first unfurled leaf. Mean separation within column for each cultivar by Fisher's least-significant-difference test at P ≦ 0.05.
As shown in Table 5, the new cultivar ‘Fiesta’ was quick to sprout regardless of tuber treatments. Intact and de-eyed tubers sprouted 22 and 23 days after planting, respectively, 7 to 13 days earlier than ‘Florida Fantasy’ and ‘White Queen’ (Table 5).
Plants of ‘Fiesta’ had an average height of 20.3 cm (intact tubers) and 18.6 cm (de-eyed tubers), similar to the plant height of ‘Florida Fantasy’ (22.9 cm for intact tubers and 21.5 cm for de-eyed tubers), but significantly shorter than the height of ‘White Queen’ (32.0 cm for intact tubers and 29.1 cm for de-eyed tubers) (Table 5). Plants of ‘Fiesta’ had an average of 14.9 (for intact tubers) or 32.8 (de-eyed tubers) leaves per plant, 84% and 188% more than ‘White Queen’ plants had (Table 5). Leaves of ‘Fiesta’ and ‘White Queen’ plants from intact tubers were similar in length and width, whereas leaves of ‘Fiesta’ plants from de-eyed tubers were shorter and narrower than those of ‘White Queen’ plants from de-eyed tubers. Plants of ‘Fiesta’ received a quality rating of 2.4 (for intact tubers) and 4.0 (for de-eyed tubers), respectively, which were significantly higher than the quality rating of ‘White Queen’ plants.
Plants of ‘Fiesta’ from intact tubers had similar leaf numbers (14.9 and 14.1) and leaf lengths (27.1 and 24.8 cm) with plants of ‘Florida Fantasy’, but a greater leaf width and a lower quality rating than plants of ‘Florida Fantasy’. However, plants of ‘Fiesta’ from de-eyed tubers had 59% more leaves, and leaves were 2.7 cm shorter and appeared to be 1.7 cm narrower than those leaves of ‘Florida Fantasy’ from de-eyed tubers. Plant quality ratings of ‘Fiesta’ and ‘Florida Fantasy’ were comparable (4.0 and 3.7) when their tubers were de-eyed before planting.
Deng, Zhanao, Harbaugh, Brent K.
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
PP24327, | Apr 25 2012 | FLORIDA FOUNDATION SEED PRODUCERS, INC | Caladium plant named ‘UF-48-5’ |
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Jan 12 2016 | HARBAUGH, BRENT K | FLORIDA FOUNDATION SEED PRODUCERS, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 037967 | /0205 | |
Jan 19 2016 | DENG, ZHANAO | FLORIDA FOUNDATION SEED PRODUCERS, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 037967 | /0205 | |
Jan 30 2016 | Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
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