CHARACTERIZATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF GENETIC DIVERSITY AMONG ROSE GENOTYPES USING MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR MARKERS.

The aim of this research was to investigate the genetic variability of Rosa species and cultivars using morphological traits and PCR-based start codon targeted (SCoT) molecular markers to determine their degree of relatedness. Morphological analysis revealed significant differences between the genotypes. Thus, the rosehip fruit diameter ranged between 16.4 mm (R. canina Baisoara) and 26.5 mm (R. rugosa UASVM Cluj-Napoca), whereas the fruits length ranged between 33.7-27.2 mm for R. canina and 19.1-20.2 mm for R. rugosa. Regarding the number of seeds/fruit, the highest average number was registered in R. canina Salina Turda (30.05) and the lowest in R. rugosa UASVM Cluj-Napoca (17.15). Analysis of SCoT bands revealed a polymorphism ranging from 62.5% (SCoT 8) to 81.81% (SCoT 2). The PCoA and PCA analysis plots showed a tight grouping of the R. canina genotypes, distinct from the others Rosa sp. The cluster analysis divided the samples into two groups: the first comprised R. galica, R. rugosa, and R. damascena, while the second consisted of R. canina. Significant variations in each subgroup may be attributed to the samples' origins, and to morphological and genetic differences. These results provide new perspectives for exploiting the existing genetic variability among the evaluated species and further using them for ornamental, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]