Gentiana Plant Named ‘ashiro 29-2073’

Common name: Japanese gentian.

Botanical classification: Gentiana L. hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Ashiro 29-2073’.

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 29-2073’.

This new gentian has a color of inner side of lobes which is light purple (N80D on The RHS Colour Chart) and a stem length of 83.8 cm on average. 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 ‘25-322-R1’, ‘26-904’, ‘12-320-1’, ‘14-526-2’, ‘11-24-1’, ‘11-192-1’, ‘13SH’, ‘10-76’, ‘6-62’, ‘12-186-1’, ‘12-212-1’, ‘25-817’, ‘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( scabra x triflora ))x scabra )))x(( scabra x triflora )x scabra )).

With respect to the direct parents ‘28-2012Co-3b’ and ‘27-836-53’, the instant variety ‘Ashiro 29-2073’ has a triploid and double-flowered flower type, whereas ‘28-2012Co-3b’ has tetraploid and double-flowered flower type, and ‘27-836-53’ has diploid and single-flowered flower type.

The multiple-step cross-breeding program was performed over multiple growing seasons up to 2018; in September 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 light purple (N80D on The RHS Colour Chart) and by its stem length of 83.8 cm on average, as compared to ‘Lovely Ashiro’ variety whose color of inner side of lobes is pale purple (N75B on The RHS Colour Chart) and whose stem length is 110.1 cm on average. ‘Lovely Ashiro’ is unpatented.

A comparison with ‘Lovely Ashiro’ variety is presented as follows in Table 1:

TABLE 1

‘Lovely Ashiro’ ‘Ashiro 29-2073’

Color of inner side Pale purple (N75B on light purple (N80D on

of lobes the RHS Colour Chart) the RHS Colour Chart)

Stem length 110.1 cm 83.8 cm

Additional distinguishing characteristics of the ‘Ashiro 29-2073’ plant are the six-seven (6.3 on average) lobes of the paracorolla, and the light purple color (N80C on The RHS Colour Chart), with spots, 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 29-2073’ plant as grown in a culturing bed;

FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing flowers of the ‘Ashiro 29-2073’ plant;

FIG. 3 is a color photograph showing flowering stages of flowers of the ‘Ashiro 29-2073’ plant;

FIG. 4 is a color photograph showing petals of flowers of the ‘Ashiro 29-2073’ plant;

FIG. 5 is another color photograph showing flowers of the ‘Ashiro 29-2073’ 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: 83.8 cm

Thickness (main flowering 3.9 mm

stem):

Number of flowering stems 13.2

per plant (average):

Texture: smooth

Color: strong yellow green (145A

on RHS Colour Chart)

Anthocyanin coloration at present, dark red (187B

two thirds from base: on RHS Colour Chart)

Number of internodes longer 17.9

than 5 mm (average):

Length of internode in 5.3 cm

central third:

Side shoots: present

Number of side shoots with 2.6

only one node (average):

Number of side shoots with 7.4

more than one node

(average):

Length of side shoots 44.5 cm

(average):

Diameter of side shoots 2.4 mm

(average):

Texture of side shoots: smooth

Color of side shoots: light yellow green (145C

on RHS Colour Chart)

Position of longest leaf: in lower third

Leaf Length: 7.3 cm

Leaf arrangement: opposite leaf arrangement

Leaf attachment: sessile

Leaf apex: acuminate

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf base: rounded

Leaf texture (inner side): smooth

Leaf texture (outer side): smooth

Leaf color (inner side): moderate olive green

(137A on RHS Colour

Chart)

Leaf color (outer side): moderate yellow green

(138C on RHS Colour

Chart)

Leaf venation pattern: parallel venation (five

lines)

Leaf venation color: light yellow green (150D

on RHS Colour Chart)

Width: 2.4 cm

Shape: lanceolate

Shape in cross section: folded upwards

Shape in longitudinal section: straight

Twisting: present

Number of conspicuous 5

veins:

Anthocyanin coloration: absent

Inflore- Distribution of flowers: clustered

scence Position of flowers: terminal and axillary

Number of inflorescences per 398.3

plant per season (average):

Plant: Number of terminal flowers 6.9

(average):

Typical plant height: about 83.8 cm

Typical growth habit: erect

Plant height (average): 83.8 cm

Plant spread (average): 74.8 cm

Plant shape: erect

Number of flowers per top: 6.9

inflorescence: others: 2.7

Number of flowers at central 2.7

flowering node (average):

Number of flowering node: 8.8

Flower bud Shape of bud: oval

(about 3

days before

flowering)

Length of bud (average): 48.02 mm

Diameter of bud (average): 12.30 mm

Color of bud: greyish purplish red

(N77B on RHS Colour

Chart)

Flower Type: double

Time of flowering: mid-October

Flower longevity (potted 12 days

plant):

Flower longevity (cut 8 days

flower):

Corolla Depth: 46.0 mm

Diameter at middle third: 16.6 mm

Shape: campanulate

Diameter at top: 32.5 mm

Curvature of lobes: reflexed

Margin of lobes: entire

Texture of lobes: smooth

Color of outer side of lobes: light purple (N80D on

RHS Colour Chart)

Color of inner side of lobes: light purple (N80D on

RHS Colour Chart)

Tube length (average): 29.5 mm

Tube texture: smooth

Color of inner side of tube: light purple (76A on RHS

Colour Chart)

Color of upper part of inner light purple (N81D on

side of tube: RHS Colour Chart)

Color of outer side of tube: greyish purplish red

(N77B on RHS Colour

Chart)

Color of upper part of outer greyish purplish red

side of tube: (N77B on RHS Colour

Chart)

Streaked pattern on outer present

side of tube:

Color of streaked pattern on purplish-brown

outer side of tube:

Number of lobes: at least 6

Length of lobes: 10.0 mm

Width of lobes: 11.6 mm

Shape of lobes: broad triangular

Shape of distal end of lobes: acute

Presence of secondary lobes: present

Shape of secondary lobes: acute

Shape of secondary lobe acute

apex:

Margin of secondary lobes: entire

Length of secondary lobes 4.9 mm

(average):

Width of secondary lobes 2.9 mm

(average):

Texture of secondary lobes: smooth

Color of secondary lobes: light purple (N80C on

RHS Colour Chart) for

both surfaces

Presence of spots on present

secondary lobes:

Color of spots on secondary strong yellow green (143B

lobes: on RHS Colour Chart)

Paracorolla Presence of paracorolla: present

Number of paracorolla lobes 6.3

(average):

Calyx Anthocyanin coloration: present

Length of tube: 15.6 mm

Diameter of tube: 7.5 mm

Shape of tube: funnel-shaped

Texture of tube (inner side): smooth

Texture of tube (outer side): slightly wrinkled

Shape of lobe: narrow lanceolate

Sepal Sepal number: 6

Sepal lobe shape: narrow lanceolate

Sepal length (average): 20.9 mm

Sepal width (average): 4.6 mm

Sepal apex: acute

Sepal margin: entire

Sepal texture (inner side): smooth

Sepal texture (outer side): smooth

Sepal color (inner side): moderate yellowish green

(139B on the RHS Colour

Chart)

Sepal color (outer side): strong yellow green

(143C on the RHS Colour

Chart)

Repro- Stamens and anther: stamens are mutated into

ductive petals and there is no

organs anther

Pistil number: 1

Pistil length (average): 35.0 mm

Stigma (none)

Style (none)

Ovary color: light yellow green (145C

on RHS Colour Chart)

Roots Root shape: fine and fibrous

Pedicel No pedicel

Peduncle Peduncle length (average): 2.90 mm

Peduncle diameter (average): 3.30 mm

Peduncle texture: smooth

Peduncle color: light yellow green (145C

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.