The assessment of the seeds quality of the Rhododendron L. species introduced at the Western Ural area

Seeds of 5 studied rhododendron species (Rhododendron canadense (L.) Torr., Rh. japonicum (A. Gray) Suring., Rh. ledebourii Pojark., Rh. sichotense Pojark., Rh. smirnowii Trautv.) introduced at the Western Ural area, have the morphological features typical for their distribution in nature (anemokhoriya). They don't differ significantly in size from described seeds in literature. Seeds Rh. japonicum, Rh. ledebourii, Rh. smirnowii collected at the Western Ural area have the bigger weight than seeds of these rhododendron species collected in the Baltics environment which is favorable for cultivation. Besides, high rates of seed germination in soil of the studied rhododendron species allow to speak about sufficient degree of the adaptive potential expressiveness and prospects of their introduction at the Western Ural area.