Chrysanthemum plant named Mambo

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

#Mambo, identified as 1661 (87-401001), was originated from a cross made by Cornelis P. VandenBerg in a controlled breeding program in Salinas, Calif., in August 1986.

#The female parent of Mambo was the cultivar Samoa, identified as 5528 (84-112012), which cultivar was introduced in the United Kingdom. Samoa is described as an orange-bronze anemone cut spray mum with a green anemone cushion and having a flowering response to short days of 53 to 64 days when grown in Salinas, Calif., and 68 to 75 days when grown in Bogota, Colombia; a plant height of 91 to 119 cm when grown with 6 to 7 long days prior to start of short days in Salinas, Calif., and 137 to 163 cm with 7 to 14 long days prior to start of short days when grown in Bogota, Colombia; and a diameter of capitulum of 89 to 102 mm. The female parent was discarded from the Colombian program in October 1986 after two trials because of unsatisfactory performance under the Bogota environmental conditions.

#The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence and leaf characteristics of Mambo, with the colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

#Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Mambo grown as a single stem spray cut mum in Salinas, Calif.

#Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of the inflorescence of Mambo.

#Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to Mambo is the cultivar identified as Leona, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,315. Reference is made to attached Chart A, which compares certain characteristics of Mambo to the same characteristics of Leona.

#Similar traits are capitulum form and type, and spray formation. Although both Mambo and Leona can be generally described as having an orange-bronze to bronze ray floret color, the color of Mambo is more vibrant than the color of Leona. In comparison to Leona, Mambo has a smaller diameter of capitulum, a slower flowering response after start of short days in Salinas, and a taller plant height when grown in Salinas. The plant height of both cultivars when grown in Bogota is not comparable because of the different long day period given prior to start of short days. The overall peduncle length for Mambo is shorter than the peduncle length of Leona. Low night temperature tolerance of Leona is described as marginal, and Leona is not being produced in Colombia because of this trait, while the low night temperature of Mambo is excellent.

#When compared with both parents, Mambo has a slightly faster flowering response in Salinas than either parent, and has a smaller diameter of capitulum than the female parent. In addition, neither parent can be produced commercially in Bogota because of overall unsatisfactory performance, while the overall performance of Mambo in Bogota warrants commercial introduction in Colombia.