Pelargoniums are popular ornamental plants worldwide, but rising temperatures pose a serious threat to their performance and appearance. In a study recently published in HortScience and led by OPGC Visiting Scholar Dr. Yanxiu Miao, researchers evaluated nine Pelargonium species and cultivars conserved at the OPGC to identify those better able to withstand heat stress. The results showed that Pelargonium sidoides and the cultivar ‘Chocolate Mint’ maintained healthier leaf color, higher chlorophyll levels, and stronger photosynthesis under high temperatures, indicating good heat tolerance. In contrast, P. stenopetalum and the cultivar ‘Madame Thibault’ experienced leaf yellowing, reduced growth, and significant declines in photosynthetic activity. These findings highlight promising heat-tolerant Pelargoniums that can support future breeding efforts aimed at developing ornamental plants better suited to warmer climates.
The publication can be found here: https://journals.ashs.org/view/journals/hortsci/61/2/article-p360.xml