UF 4412 and UF 4424—Red Lance-leaved Caladium Cultivars

Abstract

Cultivated caladiums (Caladium 3hortulanum Birdsey, Araceae Juss.) are valued for their colorful and variable-shaped leaves (Harbaugh and Tjia, 1985; Wilfret, 1993). Cultivars generally are divided into three groups according to leaf shape and size: fancy-, lance-, and strap-leaved (Wilfret, 1986). Fancy-leaved caladiums produce large round–ovate to triangular leaves with three main veins, two large basal lobes partially to fully joined, and a petiole attached to the back of the leaf blade. Strap-leaved caladiums have linear leaves with one main vein and no obvious basal lobes. Lance-leaved caladiums produce leaves intermediate between fancy and strap types: leaves sagittate to cordate–lanceolate in shape, basal lobes obvious to barely obvious, and petioles attached to the base of the leaves (Deng and Harbaugh, 2006a). The majority of caladium cultivars in commercial production are fancy-leaved (Bell et al., 1998; Deng et al., 2011). However, there has been an increasing demand for lanceleaved cultivars. Florida growers, the primary supplier of caladium tubers used in the world, reported greater than 50% more acres used for producing lance-leaved caladiums in 2008 than in 1998 (Bell et al., 1998; Deng and Alleyne, 2009; Deng et al., 2011). Plants of lance-leaved cultivars generally are more compact with smaller leaves and shorter petioles than fancy-leaved caladiums. Tubers produced by lance-leaved caladiums tend to be more branched (Deng and Harbaugh, 2008). Therefore, lance-leaved caladiums are adaptable to different container sizes, do not require tuber de-eyeing for pot plant production, and are less expensive and easier to ship from production sites to markets. These characteristics result in significant benefits to growers producing and marketing potted caladium plants (Deng and Harbaugh, 2008). Lance-leaved caladiums may be more resilient to wind damage, drought, sunburn, and shading than fancy-leaved caladiums and may do better than the latter in the landscape when such stresses occur (Deng and Harbaugh, 2008). However, many lance-leaved caladiums often produce small tubers (Wilfret, 1983). Tubers are both the planting stock and the crop for caladium growers. Thus, tuber yield is one of the most important factors determining a cultivar’s economic value for commercial production of caladium tubers. Growers cannot produce cultivars profitably without adequate tuber yield and have to eliminate them from commercial production. Thus, developing new lance-leaved caladium cultivars with adequate tuber yield potential has been a priority breeding objective for the University of Florida (UF) caladium breeding program since its beginning in 1976. Currently, ‘Florida Sweetheart’ is the most popular lance-leaved commercial cultivar of any color, and ‘Florida Red Ruffles’ is the most popular red lance-leaved commercial cultivar among caladium growers, greenhouse growers, and nurseries (Bell et al., 1998; Deng and Alleyne, 2009; Deng et al., 2011). Both cultivars were introduced by the UF caladium breeding program. Plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ are compact and produce wide lance leaves with a rosy color and relatively large tubers (Wilfret, 1991a). ‘Florida Red Ruffles’ has a compact, upright growth habit and excellent sunburn tolerance (Wilfret 1991b). UF 4412 (Fig. 1) and UF 4424 (Fig. 2) are attractive lance-leaved cultivars with novel, distinct combinations of plant and foliar characteristics. UF 4412 leaves are heartshaped like ‘Florida Sweetheart’ but have a large red center and numerous netted red veins. UF 4412 plants are taller and produce longer and wider leaves than ‘Florida Sweetheart’ plants. UF 4424 leaves are cordate– lanceolate-like ‘Florida Red Ruffles’ leaves but have a large, glossy, red center and numerous red, thick veins. UF 4412 and UF 4424 were comparable or superior in replicated field, greenhouse, and landscape trials