Rhododendron L. 'Fragrantissimum Improved' is an attractive cultivar with showy, fragrant flowers but has limited potential for breeding because it is a sterile wide hybrid. Protocols for in vitro regeneration and polyploid induction were developed for this cultivar as a means to potentially restore fertility and enhance ornamental traits. Combinations of thidiazuron (TDZ) at 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20 mu M and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) at 0, 2.5, 5, or 10 mu M were used to induce shoot regeneration from leaves. Shoot regeneration was optimized (68% of leaf segments produced shoots) using 8.8 mu M TDZ and 10 mu M NAA. To induce polyploidy, regenerative callus was treated with 7.5, 15, 30, 60, or 90 mu M of the mitotic inhibitor oryzalin for 1, 3, 5, 7, or 14 d in various combinations. Oryzalin significantly affected survival and shoot regenerative capacity. A percentage of homogenous, tetraploid shoots was recovered from treatments of 30 mu M oryzalin for 1 (13%) or 3 (13%) days and 7.5 mu M oryzalin for 7 (20%) or 14 (7%) days.