USDA Accession NO.: 21697

SELECTION: Seedling selection Nr. 9045-20 from cross Nr. 45 made at Corvallis, OR in 1990

GENUS: Humulus

SPECIES: lupulus

CULTIVAR: Sunbeam

PEDIGREE: USDA 21522 x OP; Saazer 38 x open pollinated

PRIMARY SITE: USDA-OSU Hop experimental farm, East Farm, Corvallis, OR.

ORIGIN: open pollinated seed collected by Dr. Al Haunold in 1990

DATE RECEIVED: summer 1990, selected as a seedling in 1992

METHOD RECEIVED: seedling selection

AVAILABILITY: no restrictions, publicly released variety

REFERENCES: A. Haunold, G.B. Nickerson, U. Gampert, and D.S. Kling. 1995. Registration of 'Sunbeam' ornamental hop. Crop Science 35: 1708,1995.

USDA-ARS: Notice of release of two ornamental hops, Sunbeam and Bianca. Washington DC. Dec. 5, 1995 (signed by C.E. Finney, Administrator

MATURITY: medium early

LEAF COLOR: lemon yellow

SEX: female

DISEASES: downy mildew: moderately resistant

Verticillium wilt: moderately resistant

Viruses: free of all major hop viruses at the time of release

VIGOR: very good

YIELD: good

SIDE ARM LENGTH: 12 to 30 inches

ALPHA ACIDS: 4 to 5%

BETA ACIDS: 2.5%

COHUMULONE: 36%

STORAGE STABILITY: fair, similar to its female parent Saazer

OIL: 0.8 to 1.3 ml/100 g. Humulene 14%; caryophyllene 4%; farnesene 6%; myrcene 56%; H/C ratio = 3.12. The oil is moderately high in humulene and farnesene.

MAJOR TRAITS: attractive lemon-yellow leaf color during the whole season., reddish brownstem color which contrasts nicely with the yellow leaves.

OTHER INFORMATION: This is an ornamental diploid hop which is not intended for commercial production. However, the cones could be suitable for flavoring beer and ales especially of a Saazer-type aroma profile is desired. The reduced chlorophyll content makes Sunbeam sensitive to direct sunlight in midsummer, causing shriveling and browning of the leaves. Therefore, this variety is best grown in semi-shaded areas to maintain attractive foliage during the entire growing season.