Origin

Aglaonema ‘Scenic Bay’ is a selection from an interspecific cross of A. commutatum Treubii with A. nitidum Curtissii. The resulting seedling ‘Scenic Bay’ was selected from a hybrid population because of its highly variegated leaves, white and yellow–green mottled petioles, vigorous growth, and strongly triangular form and habit.

Description

The color descriptions that follow are based on The Royal Horticultural Society's color chart [Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), 1995]. Aglaonema ‘Scenic Bay’ upper leaf surfaces display a dark green edge and background (RHS 137A) that are highlighted by irregular variegated areas associated with the lateral veins as shown in Figure 1. These irregular areas, consisting of two distinct colors, originate from the midrib angling toward the leaf tip to form an irregular V pattern and cover approximately two-thirds of the upper leaf surface. Darker, grayed–green (RHS 191A) areas of variegation are centered over the lateral veins and vary from 0.5 to 1.5 cm in width. They are contrasted by a lighter grayed–green-colored variegation (RHS 191B) that is visible within the darker sections and are also centered directly over the vein. These lighter areas measure 3 to 4 mm wide and have irregular edges. There are three to four variegated bands in each leaf separated by the darker green background strips. The leaf underside is a lighter green field (RHS 137C) with the midrib and lateral veins a lighter yellow green (RHS 148C/D). The petioles are mottled with a mix of darker green (RHS 137A) and yellow green (RHS 148D) flecks. Petiole wings are yellow green RHS 148D and contain darker spots of green (RHS 137C). The stem, although hidden from view as a result of the clasping nature of the petioles, exhibits a combination of dark green (RHS 137C) and lighter yellow green (RHS 148D) areas that blend together.

Performance

Growth tests for Aglaonema ‘Scenic Bay’ were initiated using 10- to 12-cm long tip cuttings composed of three to four leaves each. Cuttings were harvested from stock plants grown in a shaded greenhouse in Apopka, FL, and stuck in 50-celled trays containing Vergro Container Mix A (Verlite Co., Tampa, FL) on 14 Nov. 2006. The cuttings were placed inside a propagation tent at a maximum irradiance of 80 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ for 8 weeks. On removal from the propagation tent, rooted cuttings were allowed to acclimatize for 2 weeks in the greenhouse. At this time, half of the liners were potted one plant per 1.6-L pot using with Vergro Container Mix A and half were potted one plant per 1.6-L pot using Fafard 2 Mix (Conrad Fafard, Inc., Agawam, MA) substrate. Plants were grown in a shaded greenhouse with maximum irradiance of 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ under a natural photoperiod and a temperature range of 15 to 34 °C. Plants were grown using three different fertilizer treatments: 1) Osmocote Plus 15N–4P–10K (Scotts-Sierra Horticultural Products Company, Marysville, OH); 2) Nutricote Plus 18N–2.6P–6.6K (Chisso-Asahi Fertilizer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan); and 3) Peter's liquid 20N–8.8P–16.6K (Scotts-Sierra Horticultural Products Company). Plants fertilized with Osmocote and Nutricote were retreated every 3 months. The liquid fertilizer treatment was applied as a 200 mL liquid drench per pot once weekly throughout the duration of the experiment. Seven plants per each fertilizer treatment in each of two soil types (42 plants total) were grown in a completely randomized design for 9 months. Data recorded at termination of the study included plant height with leaves pulled up, canopy height, canopy width, length and width of the largest leaf, number of basal shoots, and a visual quality rating in which 1 = poor, 2 = fair, 3 = saleable, 4 = good, and 5 = excellent quality.

At the finish of the growth cycle, all plants were moved into an interior growth room for 3 months’ evaluation of interior performance at a light level of 25 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ for 12 h daily at a constant 24 °C. Plants were hand-watered as needed. After 3 months, the plants were again evaluated for visual quality using the same scale as previously described. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance procedures of the SAS program (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC).

Results

Aglaonema ‘Scenic Bay’ grown in 1.6-L pots reached marketable size in 9 months. There was no significant difference in growth between potting mixes so the data were combined for analysis. Again, there were no significant differences in plant height with leaves pulled up, canopy height, canopy width, leaf width, leaf length, or visual quality (Table 1). However, the number of basal shoots was significantly higher with the Peter's fertilizer treatment (Table 1). Visual plant quality averaged between good and excellent at all nutritional treatments. After 3 months of evaluation under interior conditions, all plants had visual quality ratings of good to excellent (data not presented).

Table 1.

Plant height with leaves pulled up, canopy height and width, length and width of largest leaf, number of basal shoots, and visual quality of Aglaonema ‘Scenic Bay’ after 9 months’ growth in 1.6-L pots.

View Table

Availability

Aglaonema ‘Scenic Bay’ is intended for commercial foliage plant producers growing finished plants in 1.6- or 3.9-L containers. A patent application has been submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and plant patent rights assigned to the University of Florida, Board of Trustees. Stock plants will be released to licensed Florida growers for propagation and distribution. Inquiries regarding licensing may be sent to Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc., P.O. Box 110200, Gainesville, FL 32611. Plants for research purposes may be obtained directly from the author.