Morphological and Biochemical Diversity in Fruits of Unsprayed Rosa canina and Rosa dumalis Ecotypes Found in Different Agroecological Conditions

Abstract

The Rosa is one of the most diverse genera in the plant kingdom and, in particular, its fruits have been used for multiple purposes in different parts of the world for centuries. Within the genus, Rosa canina and Rosa dumalis are, economically, the most important species and dominate Rosa fruit production. In this study, some important fruit and shrub traits of ten Rosa canina and ten Rosa dumalis ecotypes collected from rural areas of Kars province, located in the east Anatolia region of Turkey were investigated. We found significant differences among ecotypes in most of the morphological and biochemical traits. The ecotypes were found between 1446–2210 m altitude. Fruit weight and fruit flesh ratio ranged from 2.95 g to 4.72 g and 62.55% to 74.42%, respectively. SSC (Soluble Solid Content), Vitamin C, total phenolic, total flavonoid, total carotenoid, and total anthocyanin content of the ecotypes ranged from 16.9–22.7%, 430–690 mg per 100 g FW (fresh weight), 390–532 mg gallic acid equivalent per 100 g FW, 0.88–2.04 mg per g FW, 6.83–15.17 mg per g FW and 3.62–7.81 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent per kg, respectively. Antioxidant activity was determined to be between 19.7–34.7 mg ascorbic acid equivalent per g fresh weight. Rosa ecotypes contained chlorogenic acid and rutin the most as phenolic compound. Our results indicated great diversity within both R. canina and R. dumalis fruits.