At a Glance
- A new genomic study has traced all modern roses back to a single yellow, single-petal ancestor with seven leaflets, illuminating the long evolutionary history shaped by human cultivation.
- As climate change affects horticulture, breeders turn to wild roses for traits like fragrance, drought tolerance, and disease resistance to create more resilient modern varieties.
- Researchers identified 707 single-copy genes to map rose evolution and revealed that China, not Central Asia, is the primary center of rose diversity.
- China’s northwest harbors drought-resistant yellow roses, while the humid southwest is home to fragrant white varieties, offering key traits for future breeding efforts.
- These findings promise to revolutionize rose breeding by enhancing sustainability and preserving the iconic flower’s beauty in a changing global environment.
Roses, known for their beauty and symbolism, have evolved over centuries, from wild plants to the colorful, fragrant varieties we enjoy today. A new study led by researchers from Beijing Forestry University has provided insights into the history and evolution of wild and cultivated roses, shedding light on how these plants have been shaped by human intervention. The study, published in Nature Plants (1, 2), combined genomic analysis of over 200 rose samples to trace the ancestry of roses, revealing that all modern roses share a common ancestor—a yellow, single-petal flower with seven leaflets.
Roses have become a global favorite, representing nearly 30% of the cut flower market. While roses were once bred mainly for their cosmetic appeal, climate change has shifted breeding goals toward creating more resilient varieties that can withstand stress, such as drought and disease. To achieve this, scientists have turned to wild roses, which have valuable traits like fragrance and disease resistance. The study’s findings offer valuable genetic insights into the wild ancestors of today’s roses, which could help breeders develop more durable and low-maintenance cultivars.
Through genomic sequencing, researchers identified 707 single-copy genes and used these genetic markers to uncover the evolutionary history of roses. They also traced the geographical distribution of different rose species, discovering that China holds two primary centers of rose diversity. One is in the dry northwest, home to yellow roses with small leaves, while the other is in the humid southwest, where white, fragrant roses grow. This discovery challenges the long-held belief that Central Asia was the origin of rose evolution.
The study’s results could revolutionize rose breeding, offering new opportunities for creating beautiful and more sustainable roses in the face of changing environmental conditions. By incorporating wild rose species with unique traits, researchers aim to improve cultivated roses’ hardiness and aesthetic qualities, ensuring that these iconic flowers continue to thrive for generations to come.
References
- Mondal, S. & Phys.org. (2025, April 18). Red, pink or white, all roses were once yellow says genomic analysis. Phys.Org; Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-red-pink-white-roses-yellow.html
- Cheng, B., Zhao, K., Zhou, M., Bourke, P. M., Zhou, L., Wu, S., Sun, Y., Geng, L., Du, W., Yang, C., Chen, J., Huang, R., Tian, X., Zhang, L., Huang, H., Han, Y., Pan, H., Zhang, Q., Luo, L., & Yu, C. (2025). Phenotypic and genomic signatures across wild Rosa species open new horizons for modern rose breeding. Nature Plants, 11(4), 775–789. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-025-01955-5
- Malécot, V. (2025). An evolutionary bouquet for roses. Nature Plants, 11(4), 672–673. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-025-01971-5
