Mandevilla plant named ‘TVMD803’

[0001] Botanical designation: Mandevilla sanderi.

[0002] Cultivar denomination: ‘TVMD803’.

[0003] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla sanderi, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘TVMD803’.

[0004] The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new compact and freely flowering Mandevilla plants with large flowers and good garden performance.

[0005] The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination in September, 2017 in Sao Paulo, Brazil of a proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number TVMD519, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number TVMD025, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sao Paulo, Brazil in July, 2019.

[0006] Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by terminal stem cuttings in a controlled environment in Sao Paulo, Brazil since December, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

[0007] Plants of the new Mandevilla 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 ‘TVMD803’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘TVMD803’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

• • [0009] 1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.
  • [0010] 2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.
  • [0011] 3. Early and freely flowering habit.
  • [0012] 4. White-colored flowers with yellowish orange-colored throats.

[0013] Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

• • [0014] 1. Flowers of plants of the new Mandevilla are larger than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.
  • [0015] 2. Flowers of plants of the new Mandevilla are white in color whereas flowers of plants of the female parent selection are light yellowish green in color.

[0016] Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

• • [0017] 1. Flowers of plants of the new Mandevilla are larger than flowers of plants of the male parent selection.
  • [0018] 2. Flowers of plants of the new Mandevilla are white in color whereas flowers of plants of the male parent selection are light yellowish green in color.

[0019] Plants of the new Mandevilla can also be compared to plants of Mandevilla hybrida ‘White Velvet’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,012. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants ‘White Velvet’ in the following characteristics:

• • [0020] 1. Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger flowers than plants of ‘White Velvet’.
  • [0021] 2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have white-colored flowers with yellowish orange-colored throats whereas plants of ‘White Velvet’ have white-colored flowers faintly overlain with red purple and pale yellowish green-colored throats.

[0023] The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in July in 15-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Sao Paulo, Brazil and under cultural practices typical of commercial Mandevilla production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C. Plants were pinched three times: four weeks, six weeks and eight weeks after planting. Plants were 33 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• [0024] Botanical classification: Mandevilla sanderi ‘TVMD803’.
• [0025] Parentage:
  • • [0026] Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number TVMD519, not patented.
    • [0027] Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number TVMD025, not patented.
• [0028] Propagation:
  • • [0029] Type.—By vegetative cuttings.
    • [0030] Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at temperatures about 20° C. to 35° C.
    • [0031] Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at temperatures about 20° C. to 25° C.
    • [0032] Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 20 to 25 days at temperatures about 20° C. to 35° C.
    • [0033] Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 25 to 30 days at temperature about 20° C. to 25° C.
    • [0034] Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.
    • [0035] Rooting habit.—Low branching; medium density.
• [0036] Plant description:
  • • [0037] Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; roughly broadly obovate in overall shape; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid growth rate.
    • [0038] Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 29 cm.
    • [0039] Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 27 cm.
    • [0040] Plant diameter (spread).—About 24 cm.
    • [0041] Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Moderate branching habit, typically about two primary lateral branches each with about two secondary lateral branches. Length: About 14 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Internode length: About 1.3 cm. Aspect: Primary lateral branches, mostly upright; secondary lateral branches, about 30° from primary branch axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy; becoming woody with development. Color, developing: Close to 143C. Color, developed: Close to 143C; when woody, close to 199B.
• [0042] Leaf description:
  • • [0043] Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.
    • [0044] Length.—About 6.5 cm.
    • [0045] Width.—About 4 cm.
    • [0046] Shape.—Obovate to ovate.
    • [0047] Apex.—Abruptly acuminate.
    • [0048] Base.—Rounded.
    • [0049] Margin.—Entire; not lobed.
    • [0050] Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; moderately coriaceous; semi-glossy.
    • [0051] Venation pattern.—Pinnate.
    • [0052] Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation, close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; venation, close to 138A.
    • [0053] Petioles.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 1.8 mm. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A.
• [0054] Flower description:
  • • [0055] Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers arranged in terminal and axillary cymes; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about three fully open flowers per inflorescence and about 45 flower buds and open flowers developing per plant.
    • [0056] Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously year-round in Brazil; plants begin flowering about 25 weeks after planting rooted young plants.
    • [0057] Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about ten days; flowers not persistent.
    • [0058] Fragrance.—None detected.
    • [0059] Inflorescence height.—About 9 cm.
    • [0060] Inflorescence diameter.—About 11 cm.
    • [0061] Flower buds.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 155B and towards the base, close to 145D.
    • [0062] Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused and five-parted. Diameter: About 9.5 cm by 9.5 cm. Depth (length): About 5.2 cm. Throat diameter: About 6 mm. Tube length: About 1.9 cm. Tube diameter: About 3.2 mm.
    • [0063] Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a single whorl; lower 50% portion of the petals are fused into a funnelform tube. Petal length: About 3.5 cm. Petal width: About 3.5 cm. Petal shape and appearance: Unequal and asymmetric; roughly spatulate; slightly convex. Petal apex: Acute. Petal margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to N155C. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to NN155C. Petal, fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D; venation, close to NN155D; color does not change with subsequent development. Throat: Close to 20A; venation, close to 20A. Tube: Close to 144C; venation, close to 144C.
    • [0064] Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acuminate. Base: Broadly cuneate and fused. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When developing, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C. Fully developed, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C.
    • [0065] Peduncles.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.9 mm. Aspect: About 85° from lateral branch axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color: Close to N144B.
    • [0066] Pedicels.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.1 mm. Aspect: About 85° from peduncle axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 144C.
    • [0067] Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 145B. Anther shape: Narrowly sagittate. Anther size: About 3 mm by 10 mm. Anther color: Close to 160B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 155B. Pistils: Quantity: Typically one. Pistil length: About 2.6 cm. Style length: About 2 cm. Style color: Close to 145D. Stigma diameter: About 1.6 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped, pointed. Stigma color: Close to 145B. Ovary color: Close to 145B.
    • [0068] Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have not been observed on plants of the new Mandevilla.
• [0069] Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Mandevilla have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Mandevilla plants.
• [0070] Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 13.