In general, polyploids are superior to diploids in terms of a
higher genetic adaptability and improved levels of resistance or
tolerance to environmental stresses (Shao et al., 2003). For
example, polyploidy has been shown to be associated with
increased cold tolerance in ornamental plants and increased
biomass or content of effective compounds for medical plants (Gao
et al., 1996). In this study, we also found that the crape myrtle
autotetraploids tended to display stronger resistance to the
prevalent diseases and pests, than the corresponding diploids.