Chrysanthemum plant named Thrill

Abstract

A chrysanthemum plant named Thrill characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form, daisy capitulum type, orange red ray floret color, diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 cm. at maturity, uniform seven to eight week flowering response, medium plant height, spreading, branching pattern, and tolerance of both low winter 13° C. minimum and high summer 24° C. night to 38° C. day temperatures for bud initiation and flower development. su The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named Thrill. Thrill 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, orange red floret color, seven to 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. Thrill was originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program in Salinas, Calif. in 1979. The female parent was an unnamed bronze daisy seedling originated by the present inventor and identified as 781013002. The male parent of Thrill was an unnamed orange daisy spoon seedling originated from a cross between two unnamed seedlings. Thrill was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by William E. Duffett in September 1980 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. The first act of asexual reproduction of Thrill was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in Nov. 1980 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 July 15, 1981 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Thrill are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. Thrill 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 Thrill which in combination distinguish this chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar: (1) Flat capitulum form. (2) Daisy capitulum type. (3) Orange red ray floret color. (4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 cm. at maturity. (5) Uniform seven to 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) Spreading, branching pattern. (8) Tolerance of low winter 13° C. minimum temperatures. (9) Tolerance of high summer 24° C. night to 38° C. day temperatures.

I claim: 
     
       1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., plant named Thrill, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; orange red ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 cm. at maturity; uniform seven to eight week flowering response; medium plant height; spreading, branching pattern, and tolerance of both low winter 13° C. minimum and high summer 24° C. night to 38° C. day temperatures for bud initiation and flower development.