Dahlia plant named ‘Dodahnovora’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named ‘Dodahnovora’, characterized by its upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; double-type inflorescences with reddish orange-colored ray florets; and good postproduction longevity.

Description

[0001] Botanical designation: Dahlia variabilis.

[0002] Cultivar denomination: ‘DODAHNOVORA’.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant, botanically known as Dahlia variabilis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dodahnovora’.

[0004] The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new container Dahlia plants that have a freely branching and flowering habit, strong leaves, large attractive inflorescences and good postproduction longevity.

[0005] The new Dahlia plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor during the autumn of 2020 in De Lier, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilis identified as code number DA17-000137-004, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilis identified as code number DA17-000109-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands during the summer of 2021.

[0006] Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since the summer of 2021 has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0008] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dodahnovora’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dodahnovora’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

[0009] 1. Upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.

[0010] 2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.

[0011] 3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.

[0012] 4. Dark green-colored leaves.

[0013] 5. Early and freely flowering habit.

[0014] 6. Double-type inflorescences with reddish orange-colored ray florets.

[0015] 7. Good postproduction longevity.

[0016] Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily in ray floret color as inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia have reddish orange-colored ray florets whereas inflorescences of plants of the female parent selection have yellow-colored ray florets.

[0017] Compared to plants of the male parent selection, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily in ray floret color as inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia have reddish orange-colored ray florets whereas inflorescences of plants of the male parent selection have orange and orange red bi-colored ray florets.

[0018] Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia sp. ‘Daseksten’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,036. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of ‘Daseksten’ in the following characteristics:

[0019] 1. Plants of the new Dahlia are more compact than plants of ‘Daseksten’.

[0020] 2. Plants of the new Dahlia have smaller leaves and leaflets than plants of ‘Daseksten’.

[0021] 3. Plants of the new Dahlia flower earlier than plants of ‘Daseksten’.

[0022] 4. Inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia are slightly smaller than inflorescences of plants of ‘Daseksten’.

[0023] 5. Ray florets of plants of the new Dahlia are reddish orange in color whereas ray florets of plants of ‘Daseksten’ are yellow and orange red bi-colored.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

[0024] The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Dahlia plant. The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dodahnovora’ grown in a container.DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0025] The aforementioned photograph and the following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under environmental conditions and cultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercial potted Dahlia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 22° C. and light levels were at a minimum 135 watt / m2. Plants were pinched one time about four weeks after sticking unrooted cuttings. Plants were eleven weeks old when the photograph and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

[0026] Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis ‘Dodahnovora’.

[0027] Parentage:

[0028] Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilis identified as code number DA17-000137-004, not patented.

[0029] Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilis identified as code number DA17-000109-001, not patented.

[0030] Propagation:

[0031] Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.

[0032] Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.

[0033] Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 days at temperatures about 20° C. to 22° C.

[0034] Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 21 days at temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.

[0035] Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 24 days at temperatures about 20° C. to 22° C.

[0036] Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically whitish grey in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots; tuber development has not been observed on plants of the new Dahlia.

[0037] Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.

[0038] Plant description:

[0039] Plant and growth habit.—Upright and uniformly mounding plant form; overall shape, globular; freely basal branching habit with about four primary lateral branches per plant, each primary lateral branch with about six secondary lateral branches; dense and bushy appearance; pinching is not required, but will enhance lateral branch development; inflorescences held above the foliar plane on sturdy peduncles; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.

[0040] Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 14 cm.

[0041] Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 21 cm.

[0042] Plant diameter or spread.—About 20 cm.

[0043] Lateral branches.—Length: About 40 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm. Aspect: Erect to about 30° from vertical. Strength: Sturdy. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, developing and developed: Close to 144C.

[0044] Leaf description:

[0045] Arrangement.—Opposite; leaves may be single or compound with typically three to five leaflets.

[0046] Leaf length.—About 7.5 cm.

[0047] Leaf width.—About 6.6 cm.

[0048] Leaflet length.—About 3.7 cm.

[0049] Leaflet width.—About 1.8 cm.

[0050] Leaf and leaflet shape.—Ovate.

[0051] Leaf and leaflet apex.—Acute.

[0052] Leaf and leaflet base.—Attenuate.

[0053] Leaf and leaflet margin.—Serrate; indentations are medium in depth and divergent.

[0054] Leaf and leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.

[0055] Leaf and leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.

[0056] Leaf and leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; matte.

[0057] Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves and leaflets, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation, close to 144C. Developing and fully expanded leaves and leaflets, lower surface: Close to 191C; venation, close to 144C.

[0058] Petioles.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Sturdy. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C.

[0059] Inflorescence description:

[0060] Appearance and arrangement.—Double-type inflorescence form with ray and disc florets forming acropetally on a receptacle; inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane on sturdy peduncles; inflorescences face mostly upright to slightly outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 31 inflorescences developing per plant.

[0061] Fragrance.—None detected.

[0062] Time to flower.—Early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about ten to twelve weeks after planting; in the garden in The Netherlands, plants flower continuously from spring until late summer.

[0063] Post-production longevity.—Depending on temperatures, inflorescences maintain good substance for about twelve days on the plant; inflorescences persistent.

[0064] Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Globular. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 22A.

[0065] Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7.4 cm. Depth (height): About 1.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.5 cm. Receptacle diameter: About 1.5 cm. Receptacle height: About 5 mm. Receptacle color: Close to 144A.

[0066] Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 64 arranged in about five to six whorls. Length: About 2.9 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Aspect: Initially upright and with development, outwardly. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 26A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 26B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 33B; venation, close to 33B; color becoming closer to 23C with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 23C; venation, close to 10B; color becoming closer to 23C with subsequent development.

[0067] Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 50 arranged in about four whorls. Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated; apices acute. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening and fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 9A; venation, close to 9A.

[0068] Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About eight arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Rounded acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Distally, close to 145B and proximally, close to 144A.

[0069] Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 5.5 cm. Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3 mm. Aspect: Mostly erect to slightly outwardly. Strength: Sturdy. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 144B.

[0070] Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Stamen quantity per floret: Five. Filament length: About 8 mm. Filament color: Close to 3B. Anther size: About 1 mm by 8 mm. Anther color: Close to 17A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 17A. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets only. Pistil quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Style length: About 4 mm. Style color: Close to 145D. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Bifurcate. Stigma color: Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to 160D. Seeds: To date, seed development has not been observed on plants of the new Dahlia.

[0071] Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia plants.

[0072] Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Dahlia tolerate temperatures from about 10° C. to 35° C.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘Dodahnovora’ as herein illustrated and described.

Images