A Chrysanthemum plant named Karma having flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; white ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5.5 to 7.0 cm. at maturity; uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; medium plant height when grown as a pinched spray pot mum; semi-spreading branching pattern; tolerance of both low winter 12°C to 13°C and high summer 23°C to 38°C temperatures for bud initiation and flower development; and intense green, pollen-free disc florets.

Patent
   PP5984
Priority
Aug 14 1985
Filed
Aug 14 1985
Issued
May 12 1987
Expiry
Aug 14 2005
Assg.orig
Entity
unknown
2
0
n/a
1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., plant named Karma, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; white ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5.5 to 7.0 cm. at maturity; uniform eight week flowering response; medium plant height; semi-spreading branching pattern; tolerance of both low winter 12°C to 13°C and high summer 23°C to 38°C temperatures for bud initiation and flower development; and intense green, pollen-free disc florets.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named Karma.

Karma is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objective of creating new Chrysanthemum cultivars for pinched spray pot mum programs having daisy capitulum type, white ray floret color, eight week flowering response, and the ability to produce commercially acceptable quality in year round programs. Such traits in combination were not present or required improvements in previously available commercial cultivars.

Karma, identified as 82007010, was originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program in Salinas, Calif. in 1981. The female parent of the stated cross was an unnamed seedling, identified as 79F54008. The male parent of the stated cross was an unnamed seedling, identified as 80100001.

Karma was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by William E. Duffett in September 1982 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Karma was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in December 1982 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technician working under formulations established and supervised by William E. Duffett. Horticultural examination of selected units initiated April 1983 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Karma are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Karma has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. The observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif. and Leamington, Ontario, Canada under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Karma which in combination distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Flat capitulum form.

(2) Daisy capitulum type.

(3) White ray floret color.

(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5.5 to 7.0 cm. at maturity.

(5) Uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

(6) Medium plant height, requiring 2 long day weeks prior to pinch and short days, and 1 to 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, the first at 14, the second at 21 days after the beginning of short days to attain a flowered plant height of 25 to 35 cm. in 6" pots.

(7) Semi-spreading branching pattern.

(8) Tolerance of low winter 12°C to 14°C temperatures.

(9) Tolerance of high summer 23°C to 38°C temperatures.

(10) Intense green, pollen-free disc florets.

The accompanying photographic drawings depict typical leaf and inflorescence characteristics of Karma.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of a plant of Karma grown as a pinched spray pot mum, with colors being as accurate as possible with renditions of this type.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of the inflorescence of Karma.

Sheet 3 shows the leaves of Karma in three stages of growth (mature, intermediate and immature).

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor the most similar in comparison to Karma is Garland, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,576. Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares certain characteristics of Karma to those same characteristics of Garland.

Similar traits are type, form, color and pollen-free disc florets. Karma has smaller foliage, a short, more spreading plant habit, faster response time, smaller capitulum diameter, shorter ray floret length, and its tolerance of both high and low temperatures results in more rapid and more uniform response under high and low temperatures, respectively.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined between 9:30 and 9:45 a.m. on Nov. 28, 1984 under 380 foot-candle light intensity at Salinas, Calif.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Karma.

Commercial.--Daisy spray pot mum.

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--5.5 to 7.0 cm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--White.

Color (upper surface).--155D.

Color (under surface).--155D.

Shape.--Short. Narrow with pointed tip.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--154C and 150C.

Color (immature).-5B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; no pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

A. General appearance:

Height.--medium.

Branching pattern.--Semi-spreading.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed. Smooth but deep serration.

CHART A
______________________________________
COMPARISON OF KARMA AND GARLAND
______________________________________
RAY CAPITULUM
CUL- FLORET FORM BRANCHING
TIVAR COLOR AND TYPE PATTERN
______________________________________
KARMA WHITE FLAT SEMI
DAISY SPREADING
GAR- WHITE FLAT SEMI
LAND DAISY UPRIGHT
______________________________________
FLOW-
DIAMETER ERING TEMPER-
ACROSS RE- ATURE
CUL- FACE OF PLANT SPONSE TOLER-
TIVAR CAPITULUM HEIGHT PERIOD ANCE
______________________________________
KARMA 5.5 to MEDIUM 8 WEEKS LOW:
7.0 cms. 12°C to
14°C
HIGH
23°C to
38°C
GAR- 7 to 9 cms. TALL 9 WEEKS LOW:
LAND 13°C to
14°C
HIGH:
18°C to
22°C
______________________________________
COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS
PINCHED SPRAY POT MUMS IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA
AND LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO, CANADA

Duffett, William E.

Patent Priority Assignee Title
PP8107, Jun 25 1991 Fides Beheer B.V. Chrysanthemum plant--Giraffe cultivar
PP9314, Jul 26 1994 Yoder Brothers, Inc. Chrysanthemum plant named `Shasta`
Patent Priority Assignee Title
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Executed onAssignorAssigneeConveyanceFrameReelDoc
Aug 14 1985Yoder Brothers, Inc.(assignment on the face of the patent)
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