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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #142140
Title: FOUR CULTIVARS OF IOCHROMA CYANEUM

Author
item Meerow, Alan
item SHOELLHORN, R - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item KARTUZ, M - KARTUZ GREENHOUSES

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/5/2003
Publication Date: 2/1/2004
Citation: Meerow, A.W., Schoellhorn, R.J., Kartuz, M. 2004. Four cultivars of Iochroma. HortScience. 39(1):194-197.

Interpretive Summary: We announce the formal recognition and release of four distinct color forms of Iochroma cyaneum, 'Indigo', 'Royal Blue', 'Sky King', and 'Wine Red'. All have shown remarkable heat tolerance in south Florida, given their elevation range in habitat. We believe that these fast-growing, ever-blooming, and easy to propagate cultivars have great potential for use as landscape shrubs in USDA Hardiness Zones 9B-11, root-hardy perennials in Zones 8B-9A, and as annuals and/or flowering pot plants in all zones. Using molecular marker technology we determined that 'Wine Red' is the most genetically distinct of the four, and its assignment to I. cyaneum is tentative. Material of these cultivars is available for research purposes through the National Plant Germplasm System.

Technical Abstract: Iochroma cyaneum is a soft-stemmed shrubby Ecuadorean endemic species generally found between 1800 and 2500 m elevation. The species is usually described as having dark blue flowers. We announce the formal recognition and release of four distinct color forms of this species, 'Indigo', 'Royal Blue', 'Sky King', and 'Wine Red'. All have shown remarkable heat tolerance in south Florida, given their elevation range in habitat. We believe that these ever-blooming, fast-growing, and easy to propagate cultivars have great potential for use as landscape shrubs in USDA Hardiness Zones 9B-11 (Cathey, 1990), root-hardy perennials in Zones 8B-9A, and as annuals and/or flowering pot plants in all zones. We also present AFLP analysis of the four cultivars. 'Wine Red' is the most genetically distinct of the four, and its assignment to I. cyaneum is tentative. Material of these cultivars is available for research purposes through the National Plant Germplasm System.