A Study of Genetic Diversity of Dog Rose (Rosa canina L.) Genotypes of Northwest and West of Iran Using Morphological, Biochemical Markers, and Fruit Characteristics

Dog Rose shrub is one of the valuable medicinal plants that, due to the richness of useful compounds in the fruits, has the potential to be used as dietary supplements. The aim of this study was to investigate some morphological and phytochemical traits of 20 Dog Rose genotypes collected from natural habitats of the northwest and west of Iran. Trunk diameter, trunk cross-sectional area, plant height, canopy width, tree size, and volume index were recorded before harvesting. The leaf length, leaf width, leaf fresh weight, fruit length and width, fruit tail length, fruit fresh weight, number of seeds per fruit, fruit flavor, fruit texture, fruit appearance and attractiveness, total phenol, total flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity were measured. The results of the analysis of variance showed that there was a significant difference at the 1% probability level among the samples collected from different locations for all traits. The poor correlation between traits resulted in the first two components of principal component analysis justifying a lower percentage of variation in the data. Cluster analysis using Euclidean Squared Distance and Ward Method showed that the studied genotypes were divided into four groups with different characteristics. The sample of Showt city, which was placed alone in the fourth group and also had the lowest elevation, had the highest value for most of the traits and could be considered in breeding programs.