Characterization of the Slovene Autochthonous Rose Hybrid Rosa pendulina x spinosissima (Rosa reversa Waldst. and Kit) Using Biochemical Patterns of the Plant Blossoms

The Rosa genus is characterized by great variability and, consequently, they easily hybridize. The petals of R. pendulina, R. spinosissima and their hybrid Rosa pendulina x spinosissima, collected in western Slovenia, were included in the research. We performed morphometric analysis using keys to determine roses and genetic analysis to determine the genome size. The phenolic compound content in petals of all rose flowers was measured by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Using flow cytometry, we could confirm the native hybridization process due to the amount of 2C DNA. The value of R. pendulina was 1.71 pg, of R. spinosissima 1.60 pg and of the hybrid 1.62 pg. The value for the hybrid was close to values measured for parent plants and, at the same time, those values of parent plants significantly differed from each other. Our results showed that the content of phenolic compounds in petals decreased after crossing. We found that the highest total phenolic content (178.9 g/kg FW) was measured in R. spinossisima, the lowest content was analyzed for the hybrid (84.36 g/kg FW) and the content for R. pendulina was between these two values (110.58 g/kg FW). The content of flavanols and flavonols was lowest in the hybrid petals, whereas the content of anthocyanins was highest in the hybrid petals.

Automated summary

The study investigated the petals of R. pendulina, R. spinosissima, and their hybrid Rosa pendulina x spinosissima collected in western Slovenia. Morphometric analysis and genetic analysis were used to identify the roses and determine genome size. Liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to measure the phenolic compound content. Flow cytometry confirmed native hybridization. The hybrid's genome size was similar to the parent plants, but the parent plants had significantly different genome sizes. Phenolic compound content decreased after crossing, with the highest content in R. spinossisima, lowest in the hybrid, and intermediate in R. pendulina. Flavanol and flavonol content was lowest in the hybrid petals, while anthocyanin content was highest.