Rhododendron 'Gloria Mundi', which is a 1835 J. Verleeuwen 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 'Vlasta' is documented as a cross of 'Gloria Mundi' x 'Anthony Koster'.
Rhododendron 'Gloria Mundi' has set seedpods at the Arnold Arboretum when pollinated with known tetraploids.
The Ghents are documented as having been produced from crossing diploid and tetraploid deciduous azalea species. This result appears to support that documentation.
Rhododendron 'Gloria Mundi' was also determined to be a triploid using flow cytometry by Tom Eeckhaut.
Summary of Ploidy Levels
Triploid 'Bronze Unique',
Triploid 'Daviesii',
Triploid 'Deep Rose',
Triploid 'Gloria Mundi',
Triploid 'Josephine Klinger'
Source: Arnold Arboretum Accession Number: 10125
John and Sally Perkins
