Rhododendron 'Lemon Lights', which is in the Northern Lights group from the University of Minnesota documented as open pollinated seedling of an exbury possibly having a Rhododendron canadense hybrid as the pollen parent, has been determined to be a tetraploid using flow cytometry by
Dr. João Loureiro, Dr. Silvia Castro, José Cerca Oliveira, 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.
Despite the appearance of Rhododednron 'Lemon Lights' reflecting some of characteristics common to Rhododendron canadense, the ploidy results and the normal rules of engagement where tetraploids normally reject pollen from diploids for deciduous azaleas do not support Rhododendron canadense being involved.
Summary of Ploidy Levels
Diploid Rhododendron canadense,
Diploid Rhododendron 'Orchid Lights',
Tetraploid 'Apricot Surprise',
Tetraploid 'Candy Lights',
Tetraploid 'Golden Lights',
Tetraploid 'Lemon Lights',
Tetraploid 'Mandarin Lights',
Tetraploid 'Northern Hi-Lights',
Tetraploid 'Tri-Lights'
Source: RareFind Nursery
John and Sally Perkins
