Rhododendron 'Dawn's Early Light', which is documented as a Rhododendron keiskei X Rhododendron xanthocodon, has been determined to be a diploid 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.
Both documented parents of Rhododendron 'Dawn's Early Light' are yellow, and the resemblance to Rhododendron keiskei is completely obvious, but there is little other evidence of the Rhododendron xanthocodon parent.
Summary of Ploidy Levels
Diploid Rhododendron keiskei,
Diploid 'Dawn's Early Light'
Source: RareFind Nursery
John and Sally Perkins
