Rhododendron 'Josephine Klinger', which is a 1869 J. Baumann Ghent hybrid, has been determined to be a triploid using flow cytometry by
Dr. João Loureiro, Dr. Silvia Castro, José Cerca, and Mariana Castro
Plant Ecology and Evolution Group,
Centre for Functional Ecology,
Department of Life Sciences,
Faculty of Science and Technology,
University of Coimbra, Portugal.
Rhododendron 'Josephine Klinger' appears to be sterile as both a seed and pollen parent indicating that it may represent a first generation cross of a diploid and tetraploid deciduous azalea species. The Ghents are documented as having been produced from crossing diploid and tetraploid deciduous azalea species. This result appears to support that documentation.
Summary of Ploidy Levels
Triploid 'Bronze Unique',
Triploid 'Daviesii',
Triploid 'Deep Rose',
Triploid 'Gloria Mundi',
Triploid 'Josephine Klinger'
Source: John and Sally Perkins
John and Sally Perkins
