Gentian Plant Named ‘ashiro 29-2030’

Botanical classification: Gentiana L. hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Ashiro 29-2030’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Japanese gentian, Gentiana L., which has been given the variety denomination ‘Ashiro 29-2030’.

This new gentian has a color of inner side of lobes which is strong purplish blue (96C on RHS Colour Chart) and a time of flowering in mid-October. It is adapted for use as cut flowers or pot flowers.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The variety resulted from a multiple-step cross-breeding program starting from a group of unpatented varieties. The ancestor varieties were unpatented strains owned by the applicant, having the company-internal names: ‘17INP’ which belongs to the species Gentiana triflora , and ‘26-904’, ‘12-316-3’, ‘17SUP’, and ‘8-130SP6A1’, which belong to the species Gentiana scabra . Group crosses and/or self-crosses with a single individual were performed. The program had seven steps, as shown in the map of FIG. 6 , which also indicates the company-internal names of the intermediary, unpatented strains. At each step, the individuals with good plant and flower shape were selected. The corresponding species identification is (( scabra x triflora )x scabra ))x(( scabra x triflora )x scabra )).

The multiple-step cross-breeding program was performed over multiple growing seasons up to 2018; in October 2018, selection of the variety was performed. We asexually reproduced the variety by vegetative reproduction through cuttings, tissue culturing via lateral bud culture, and in October 2020, the new variety was found to be stable and asexually reproduced true to type in successive generations.

The variety was developed and propagated in Iwate, Japan.

The variety can be propagated by cutting (optimal timing is mid-February) and/or tissue culturing via lateral bud culture.

Cultivation of the variety does not require particular conditions. Maintenance and storage method of the plant material can be by tissue culture via lateral bud culture.

The variety is adapted for use as cut flowers or pot flowers.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The variety is distinguished by the color of inner side of lobes being strong purplish blue (96C on RHS Colour Chart) and by its time of flowering in mid-October, as compared to ‘Shine Blue Ashiro’ variety whose color of inner side of lobes is strong blue (N95A on the RHS Colour Chart) and whose time of flowering in late September. ‘Shine Blue Ashiro’ is unpatented.

A comparison with Shine Blue Ashiro variety is presented as follows in Table 1:

TABLE 1

Shine Blue Ashiro Ashiro 29-2030

Color of inner Strong blue (N95A on strong purplish blue (96C

side of lobes the RHS Colour Chart) on the RHS Colour Chart)

Time of flowering Late September mid-October

Additional distinguishing characteristics of the ‘Ashiro 29-2030’ plant are the five (5.0 on average) lobes of the paracorolla, and the strong purplish-blue color (96D on R.H.S. Colour Chart), with spots, of the secondary lobes with acute apex in-between the main lobes of the corolla.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which are as nearly true as is reasonable possible to make in a color illustration of this type:

FIG. 1 is a color photograph showing the ‘Ashiro 29-2030’ plant as grown in a culturing bed;

FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing flowers of the ‘Ashiro 29-2030’ plant;

FIG. 3 is a color photograph showing flowering stages of flowers of the ‘Ashiro 29-2030’ plant;

FIG. 4 is a color photograph showing petals of flowers of the ‘Ashiro 29-2030’ plant;

FIG. 5 is another color photograph showing flowers of the ‘Ashiro 29-2030’ plant;

FIG. 6 is a map showing the steps of the cross-breeding program from which the variety was obtained.

Due to chemical and/or digital development, processing and printing, the plants or portions of plants depicted in the photographs may or may not be precisely accurate, when compared to the actual botanical specimens.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The plants in the botanical description below and shown in the Figures were grown in Iwate, Japan. The plants were collected in October 2020 at age 16 months.

Colors are given according to The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart.

• Botanical description:

TABLE 2

Stem Length: 82.7 cm

Stem shape in cross-section: circular

Thickness (main flowering 4.1 mm

stem):

Number of flowering stems per 14.9

plant (average):

Texture: smooth

Color: strong yellow green

(145A on RHS Colour

Chart)

Anthocyanin coloration at two present

thirds from base:

Number of internodes longer 22.7

than 5 mm (average):

Length of internode in 4.0 cm

central third:

Side shoots: present

Number of side shoots with only 1.5

one node (average):

Number of side shoots with 7.5

more than one node (average):

Position of longest leaf: in lower third

Leaf Length: 7.8 cm

Leaf arrangement: opposite leaf

arrangement

Leaf attachment: sessile

Leaf apex: acuminate

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf base: acute

Leaf texture (inner side): smooth

Leaf texture (outer side): smooth

Leaf color (inner side): strong yellow green

(143A on RHS Colour

Chart)

Leaf color (outer side): moderate yellow green

(139D on RHS Colour

Chart)

Leaf venation pattern: parallel venation

(three lines)

Width: 5.0 cm

Shape: narrow lanceolate

Shape in cross section: folded upwards

Shape in longitudinal section: straight

Twisting: absent

Number of conspicuous veins: 3

Anthocyanin coloration: absent

Inflore- Distribution of flowers: clustered

scence Position of flowers: terminal and axillary

Plant: Number of terminal flowers 7.5

(average):

Typical plant height: about 82.7 cm (cut

flower or potted plant)

Typical growth habit: erect

Plant spread (average): 49.7 cm

Sequence of flowering: from top downwards

Number of flowers at central 2.9

flowering node (average):

Number of flowering node: 5.7

Flower bud Shape of bud: narrow oval

(about 3

days before

flowering)

Length of bud (average): 46.01 mm

Diameter of bud (average): 9.79 mm

Color of bud: greyish purplish red

(N77D on RHS Colour

Chart)

Flower Type: double

Time of flowering: mid-October

Flower longevity (potted plant): 13 days

Flower longevity (cut flower): 7 days

Corolla Depth: 54.5 mm

Diameter at middle third: 17.7 mm

Shape: campanulate

Diameter at top: 32.3 mm

Curvature of lobes: reflexed

Color of inner side of lobes: strong purplish blue

(96C on RHS Colour

Chart)

Tube length (average): 31.4 mm

Color of upper part of inner strong purplish blue

side of tube: (96C on RHS Colour

Chart)

Color of upper part of outer greyish purplish red

side of tube: (N77D on RHS Colour

Chart)

Streaked pattern on outer side present

of tube:

Color of streaked pattern on greyish purplish red

outer side of tube: (N77D on RHS Colour

Chart)

Density of spots on the inner sparse

side of the corolla lobes:

Density of spots on the upper sparse

part of the inner side

of the corolla tube:

Density of spots on the outer absent

side of the corolla tube:

Number of lobes: 5

Length of lobes: 11.0 mm

Width of lobes: 11.3 mm

Shape of lobes: ovate

Shape of distal end of lobes: acute

Presence of secondary lobes: present

Average number of secondary 5

lobes per flower:

Shape of secondary lobe apex: acute

Color of secondary lobes: strong purplish-blue

(96D on RHS Colour

Chart) for both surfaces

Presence of spots on secondary present

lobes:

Paracorolla Presence of paracorolla: present

Number of paracorolla lobes 5.0

(average):

Paracolla apex shape: acute

Calyx Anthocyanin coloration: present

Length of tube: 16.7 mm

Diameter of tube: 6.6 mm

Shape of tube: funnel-shaped

Shape of lobe: narrow lanceolate

Sepal Sepal number: 5

Sepal lobe shape: narrow lanceolate

Sepal apex: acute

Sepal color (inner side): strong yellow green

(141D on the RHS

Colour Chart)

Sepal color (outer side): moderate yellow green

(138B on the RHS

Colour Chart)

Repro- Stamens and anther: stamens are mutated

ductive into petals

organs Time of flowering: late October

Pistil number: 1

Pistil length (average): 36.0 mm

Anther shape: narrow oval

Anther color: light yellow green

(145D on RHS Colour

Chart)

In the above chart, specific numbers correspond to average values.

• Other features of the plant are as follows:

•

• Disease resistance.— Normal resistance was observed for pests and diseases in Iwate, Japan, using pest control by chemical spraying for gentian. • Cold hardiness.— Strong, the variety can withstand winter in Iwate, Japan, including low temperatures of about −10° C. with abundant snow. • Heat tolerance.— Normal, the variety can withstand summer in Iwate, Japan, including high temperatures of about 35° C. • Flower fragrance.— Absent.