Red, pink or white, all roses were once yellow says genomic analysis

Red roses, the symbol of love, were likely yellow in the past, indicates a large genomic analysis by researchers from Beijing Forestry University, China. Roses of all colors, including white, red, pink, and peach, belong to the genus Rosa, which is a member of the Rosaceae family.

Reconstructing the ancestral traits through genomic analysis revealed that all the roads trace back to a common ancestor—a single-petal flower with yellow color and seven leaflets.

The findings are published in Nature Plants.

Accounting for almost 30% of the cut flower market sales, roses are the most widely cultivated ornamental plants and have been successfully domesticated to reflect the aesthetic preferences of each era.

It all began with the rose breeding renaissance in the 1700s, marked by the crossing of ancient wild Chinese roses and old European cultivars—plants selectively bred through human intervention to develop a desirable characteristic.

Currently, we have over 150 to 200 species of roses and more than 35,000 cultivars, displaying a wide range of blooming frequencies, fragrances, and colors. However, global climate change has prompted rose breeders to shift their focus from purely cosmetic traits to breeding rose varieties that are more resistant to stress factors like drought, disease and easier to care for.

Borrowing genetic resources from wild rose varieties, which offer valuable traits such as fragrance and disease resistance, presents a promising strategy for breeding resilient, low-maintenance rose cultivars.

A clear understanding of the origin and evolution of the Rosa genus, both wild and cultivated varieties, can not only advance the breeding efforts but also aid in the conservation of near-threatened rose varieties.

Having this in mind, the researchers collected 205 samples of over 80 Rosa species, covering 84% of what is documented in the "Flora of China."

The samples were then analyzed using genomic sequencing, population genetics, and other methods to trace back their ancestral traits. They studied 707 single-copy genes uncovered as a set of conserved genetic markers like single-nucleotide polymorphisms—the most common type of genetic variation found in DNA—which helped them chart the evolutionary and geographical history and connections between the rose species.

Ancestral trait reconstruction showed that the shared ancestor of the studied samples was a yellow flower with a single row of petals and leaves divided into seven leaflets. As roses evolved and were domesticated, they developed new colors, distinct petal markings, and the ability to bloom in clusters.

The study also brought new insight to the widely accepted notion that the Rosa genus originated in Central Asia. The genetic evidence pointed to two major centers of rose diversity in China—one in the dry northwest, where yellow roses with small leaves grow, and another in the warm and humid southwest, where the white, fragrant variety thrives.

The researchers highlight that these findings provide a strong foundation for utilizing wild Rosa resources, which could assist in the re-domestication and innovative breeding of modern roses.

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