Morphological and micromorphological study on some endemic Rosa damascena populations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in Iran

Rose is one of the most important genera of the Rosaceae family and Rosa damascena Mill. is the most prominent rose cultivated in Bulgaria, India, Turkey and Iran to produce perfume. In order to identify populations of R. damascena, morphological characteristics of this species were considered as the first and most important criterion in explaining the genetic status. Samples were taken from 750 hectares of Kashan and other areas of Isfahan province such as Meymeh (Ziyad Abad), Chadegan, Semirom and Najaf Abad and in each specimen, the shape and color of the stem, spiny or spineless, leaf shape and its length, number of leaflet, length and width of terminal leaflet, color of upper and lower of leaf, edge and base of leaf, color and number of petals, number of stamen and at the end of season, shape and color of fruit and number of seeds per fruit were evaluated. Also, the morphology of ornamentation of seed surface of these populations was studied and compared using scanning electron microscopy. According to the results, the morphological traits of different populations known as Kashan and Kazeroon were not different, but the populations known as Tabriz and Meymand showed significant differences in number of spine, shape of fruit and seed number in fruit. No significant differences were observed in seed cover decorations for all types of R. damascena populations and this trait could not be used for separation of different populations.