Fascination with dog roses: Researchers reveal secrets of reproduction!

Fascination with dog roses: Researchers reveal secrets of reproduction!

The dog rose (Rosa canina), known as the most common wild rose in Central Europe, holds great fascination for both botanists and garden lovers. This plant is not only aesthetically pleasing but also economically important. Its fruits, the rose hips, are used in the food industry and are particularly known for their use in fruit tea mixtures and for the production of “itching powder”. The origin of the name “dog rose” comes from the Latin “canina,” meaning “dog common,” thus illustrating the historical roots of this species.

The team led by Prof. Dr. Thanks to Volker Wissemann at the Justus Liebig University of Giessen, which has made significant progress in researching the reproduction of the dog rose. The results of this extensive study were published in the renowned journal “Nature”. A key result of the research shows that differences in the size of the centromeres play a crucial role in dog rose chromosome inheritance. It is noteworthy that dog roses use a special form of meiosis in which only two of the five sets of chromosomes are paired regularly, while the remaining three remain unpaired and are only inherited via the egg cell.

Reproduction and genetics

This particular method of reproduction combines both sexual and clonal reproduction and could have far-reaching implications for the breeding of crops that have more than two sets of chromosomes. Examining the genomes of three dog rose species down to the level of individual sets of chromosomes has helped to significantly expand our understanding of this particular plant species. Univalent chromosomes with large centromeres and specific DNA sequences are another key to elucidating chromosome distribution during cell division.

A better understanding of dog rose reproduction could help stabilize the fertility of polyploid plant species. These genetic discoveries are based in part on Prof. Wissemann's valuable rose collection in the Botanical Garden of the Justus Liebig University of Giessen and were carried out by Dr. André Marques, Prof. Dr. Christiane Ritz and Dr. Aleš Kovařík directed.

Properties and uses of the dog rose

The dog rose is very popular not only in research, but also in horticulture. With an average rating of 4.5 stars from 201 reviews and a recommendation rate of 94%, it is a valued plant in many gardens. Their ease of care and attractive growth make them the ideal privacy screen. It can reach a height of 200 to 300 cm and is known for its upright growth habit with hook-shaped spines. The flowers are simple and vary in color from white to pink, adding to the floral display during the blooming period in June and July.

The fruits of the dog rose, the rose hips, are edible and are characterized by their high vitamin C content. They are often used for making jam and jelly. Dog roses are versatile in garden design and can tolerate both sun and shade, although they prefer nutrient-rich, deep soil. Their hardiness (Z4) allows them to survive cold temperatures down to -34.5°C, making them a hardy choice for gardens in changeable climates.

In summary, the dog rose is notable not only for its ecological importance, but also for its role in garden culture and advances in science that expand our understanding of plant propagation and genetics. You can find more information about this in the articles from uni-giessen.de, baumschule-horstmann.de as well as in Europa Rosarium.