Rhododendron minus has been determined to be a diploid 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.
No naturally occurring tetraploid Rhododendron minus have been located to date. Rhododendron minus 'Epoch', which was chemically treated to increase the ploidy level, is a tetraploid.
Summary of Ploidy Levels
Diploid Rhododendron minus,
Diploid Rhododendron minus 'Blanchette',
Diploid Rhododendron minus 'Mitchell Dam',
Diploid Rhododendron minus var. chapmanii,
Tetraploid 'Epoch'
Source: Arnold Arboretum Accession Number: 483-81-A
Source: Connecticut College Arboretum Accession Number: 81-28-C
John and Sally Perkins
