Chrysanthemum plant named `Sandy Davis`

#The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, and referred to by the cultivar name Sandy Davis.

#Sandy Davis, identified as 4498 (84-382H03), is a product of a mutation induction program. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by inventor Susan M. Polys on Aug. 29, 1991 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. as one flowering plant within a flowering block established as rooted cuttings from stock plants which had been exposed as unrooted cuttings to an X-ray source of 1750 rads in Fort Myers, Fla. Mar. 20, 1991. The irradiated parent cultivar was the cultivar Orange Davis, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,295 and described as a flat daisy spray pot mum with orange-bronze flower color.

#The irradiation program resulting in Sandy Davis had as its primary objective the expansion of color ranges of the cultivar Davis, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,325, and the parent cultivar Orange Davis. The irradiation program comprised irradiation of cuttings of the parent cultivar at irradiation levels of 1500, 1750 and 2000 rads. A total of 1529 cuttings harvested from a total of 225 irradiated plants were planted on Jul. 8, 1991. Of these, 9 initial selections were made, which selections were then revegetated and reflowered. Three consecutive flowerings resulted in discarding all of the original 9 selections on May 1, 1992. Two codes were reselected prior to discarding the original code, and were maintained as PIs (Possible Introductions) and further trialed in Salinas, Calif. and Leamington Ontario, Canada, ultimately resulting in discarding one code on Oct. 11, 1994 and the decision to introduce the one remaining selection as Sandy Davis.

#The accompanying photographic drawing is a side view of Sandy Davis, grown as a spray pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot, with the colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

#Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to Sandy Davis is the parent cultivar Orange Davis. All traits of Sandy Davis are similar to those of Orange Davis, except for the ray floret color and the flowering response to short days. The ray floret color of Sandy Davis (RHS 22A to 24B) is significantly lighter than the ray floret color of Orange Davis (RHS 34B, tinged with 178C to 179A). The flowering response to short days of Sandy Davis is 1 to 2 days slower than the flowering response of Orange Davis.

#In the following description color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined on plant material grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot in Salinas, Calif. on May 22, 1995.

#Classification