Соматичні мутації сортів інтродукованих садових троянд у колекції Національного ботанічного саду імені М.М. Гришка
The article analyzes the manifestations of somatic (bud) mutational variability of traits in garden roses (Rosa L.) under the conditions of the collection of the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The study is based on the results of l...
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M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine
2026
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| author | Rubtsova, Olena Chyzhankova, Valentina |
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| description | The article analyzes the manifestations of somatic (bud) mutational variability of traits in garden roses (Rosa L.) under the conditions of the collection of the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The study is based on the results of long-term phenotypic observations of cultivars of different origin and garden groups. It was established that mutational variability in roses is not random but follows regular and largely predictable patterns determined by the genotype, origin, and breeding history of the initial cultivars. A relationship between the direction of mutational changes and the affinity of cultivars with particular garden groups was revealed: forms closer in origin to wild rose species more frequently produce mutants with enhanced expression of decorative traits, whereas cultivars of modern, evolutionarily advanced groups predominantly give rise to mutants with reduced expression of these traits. Both stable somatic mutants and cases of partial or complete reversion to the phenotype of the original cultivar were recorded. The practical significance of somatic mutations for cultivar assessment, cultivar identification, trait stability assessment, and mutation breeding in ornamental plants is substantiated. |
| doi_str_mv | 10.46341/PI2025031 |
| first_indexed | 2026-03-21T02:00:20Z |
| format | Article |
| fulltext |
© The Authors. This content is provided under CC BY 4.0 license.
Plant Introduction, 109, 55–64 (2026) ISSN 1605-6574, e-ISSN 2663-290X
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Somatic mutations in introduced garden rose cultivars in the collection
of the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden
Olena Rubtsova *, Valentina Chyzhankova
M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Sadovo-Botanichna str. 1, 01103 Kyiv, Ukraine;
* olenarubtsova@gmail.com
Received: 03.12.2025 | Accepted: 19.03.2026 | Published: 20.03.2026
Abstract
The article analyzes the manifestations of somatic (bud) mutational variability of traits in garden roses
(Rosa L.) under the conditions of the collection of the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The study is based on the results of long-term phenotypic
observations of cultivars of different origin and garden groups. It was established that mutational
variability in roses is not random but follows regular and largely predictable patterns determined by
the genotype, origin, and breeding history of the initial cultivars. A relationship between the direction of
mutational changes and the affinity of cultivars with particular garden groups was revealed: forms closer
in origin to wild rose species more frequently produce mutants with enhanced expression of decorative
traits, whereas cultivars of modern, evolutionarily advanced groups predominantly give rise to mutants
with reduced expression of these traits. Both stable somatic mutants and cases of partial or complete
reversion to the phenotype of the original cultivar were recorded. The practical significance of somatic
mutations for cultivar assessment, cultivar identification, trait stability assessment, and mutation breeding
in ornamental plants is substantiated.
Keywords: Rosa, garden roses, somatic mutations, bud mutations, mutational variability, cultivar study, trait stability, ornamental
plants
https://doi.org/10.46341/PI2025031
UDC 581.154 : [581.522.4] : 582.711.71 : [58 : 069.029] (477-25)
Authors’ contributions: Rubtsova O. – conceptualization, methodology, data analysis, visualization, writing – original draft, review &
editing. Chizhankova V. – investigation, resources.
Funding: The research was conducted under the thematics No. 347-LB “Monitoring the state of green spaces in urbanized ecosystems:
methodology and sustainable development”. State registration number of the work 0122U000149.
Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Introduction
Varietal studies of ornamental plants are
an important component of the scientific
support for breeding. For crops predominantly
propagated vegetatively, particularly garden
rose cultivars, the study of phenotypic
variability in traits, their stability, and their
origin is of special importance, since these
characteristics form the basis for cultivar
identification and for assessing compliance
with the criteria of distinctness, uniformity,
and stability.
Along with hybridization, somatic (bud)
mutations play an important role in the
formation of the modern assortment of
roses. They have led to the emergence of
numerous well-known cultivars that differ
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4255-8307
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3372-9784
56 Plant Introduction • 109
Rubtsova & Chyzhankova
in flower color, degree of duplication, plant
habit, and other morphological traits essential
for cultivar identification. At the same time,
mutational variability is often regarded as
a random process, which complicates its
practical application in breeding and varietal
studies.
Studies by K.I. Zykov and Z.K. Klimenko
(Rubtsova, 2003, 2005) have shown that the
mutational process in garden roses follows
certain regularities and is largely determined
by the genotype and origin of the initial
cultivars. These theoretical concepts are of
great importance not only for breeding but
also for varietal studies, as they enable the
prediction of the nature of phenotypic changes
and assessment of the potential of somatic
mutants as new cultivars.
In this context, the analysis of mutational
variability in botanical garden collections of
roses is highly relevant due to its regularity,
predictability, and significance for varietal
studies. The integration of theoretical
concepts of the mutational process with
long-term phenotypic observations enables a
deeper understanding of the nature of varietal
variability. It substantiates the practical use of
mutant forms in breeding.
The study aimed to identify the regularities
of mutational variability of traits in garden
rose cultivars and to assess their significance
for varietal studies and cultivar identification.
To achieve this aim, the following objectives
were defined:
• to analyze the manifestation of somatic
(bud) mutational variability of traits in
rose cultivars of different origins and
garden groups;
• to determine the dependence of the
direction of mutational changes on the
origin of the initial cultivars and on the
inheritance patterns of quantitative and
qualitative traits;
• to assess the stability of phenotypic
expression of somatic mutants during
long-term observations.
Material and methods
The study was carried out using a collection of
garden rose cultivars from the M.M. Gryshko
National Botanical Garden of the National
Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NBG), which
is one of the largest and most representative
rose collections in Ukraine and comprises
more than 560 cultivars from various
garden groups and origins. The collection is
maintained under open-field conditions and
is used for introduction, breeding, and varietal
studies.
The study focused on rose cultivars,
in which manifestations of somatic (bud)
mutational variability were recorded during
long-term observations, as well as on stable
cultivar mutants preserved in the collection.
The analysis included cultivars from different
garden groups, in particular hybrid tea,
floribunda, grandiflora, climbing, and old
garden roses, which enabled comparison of
mutational variability by origin and breeding
development of the initial forms.
The research was conducted using long-
term phenotypic observations (Boiko et al.,
2015). Trait testing was performed throughout
the growing season, accounting for trait
expression repeatability across years. Special
attention was paid to morphological traits
of key importance for cultivar identification
and for distinctness, uniformity, and stability
testing, namely flower color and its intensity,
degree of duplication, and plant habit.
Somatic mutation recording was performed
in cases where shoots or inflorescences with
phenotypic traits differing from those typical
of the original cultivar appeared on plants.
For each detected mutation, a description
of morphological changes, a comparative
characterization with the original form, and an
assessment of the stability of trait expression
in subsequent growing seasons were
performed. In cases of repeated occurrence
of altered traits or their persistence after
vegetative propagation, mutant forms were
regarded as potentially stable.
To analyze the directionality of mutational
variability, a comparative morphological
approach was used, accounting for the origin
of cultivars, their affinity with particular
garden groups, and the inheritance patterns of
traits reported in the literature.
The stability of phenotypic traits was
assessed through repeated observations
over several growing seasons. Both cases of
persistent maintenance of mutant traits and
manifestations of reversion to the phenotype
of the original cultivar were taken into account,
which is important for varietal studies.
Plant Introduction • 109 57
Somatic mutations in introduced garden roses in the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden
The obtained results were summarized
using descriptive and analytical methods,
which enabled the identification of regularities
in the mutational variability of traits in garden
roses and the evaluation of their practical
significance for varietal studies and cultivar
identification.
Results and discussion
Hybridization is the primary and traditional
method for creating new plant cultivars;
however, mutations also play a significant
role in generating cultivar diversity, especially
in vegetatively propagated crops. The use of
natural (spontaneous) and induced mutations
in the breeding process is known as mutation
breeding. Its results can be applied to the
development of new cultivars, the production
of initial breeding material, overcoming
crossing incompatibility, and fundamental
research in plant genetics and biology.
An advantage of mutation breeding is
the relatively rapid achievement of results
compared to hybridization, particularly in
crops with a long juvenile period, where the
trials of hybrid progeny require many years
of observation (Sarwar & Butt, 2015). Unlike
hybridization, which combines traits from
different genotypes within a single organism,
the mutational process allows modification
of one or several traits without significantly
altering the genotype of the original cultivar.
This is particularly important when it is
necessary to adjust a specific characteristic
of a high-quality cultivar while preserving its
unique agronomically valuable properties.
During the mutational process, phenotypic
expression of recessive genes controlling
valuable traits is possible. In roses, these
include remontancy, flower duplication,
yellow, white, and dark red coloration, as well
as the climbing growth habit (Datta, 2018). For
this reason, somatic (bud) mutations play a
key role in shaping the modern assortment of
garden roses.
Among ornamental plants used for cut
flowers and landscaping, roses take the
leading place. The global assortment of roses
has been formed over a long historical process
of introduction, selection, and breeding, and
currently comprises about 30,000 cultivars
across various garden groups. Bud mutations
have made a substantial contribution to
enriching this assortment.
Some of the earliest examples of
spontaneous mutations in roses include
the emergence of remontant forms of Rosa
chinensis Jacq., the cultivation of which in
China began about a thousand years ago
(Guoliang, 2003), as well as the appearance
of characteristic glands on the sepals of moss
roses – mutant forms of R. × centifolia L., first
described in the 17th century (Hurst & Breeze,
1922). According to Fatih (2003), most thornless
rose cultivars are also of mutant origin.
An analysis of the rose assortment presented
on the world market in 1937–1976 showed that,
out of 5,819 cultivars, 865 were obtained as a
result of bud mutations (Haenchen & Geifert,
1978; Rout et al., 1999). Saakov (1976), analyzing
the origin of 10,368 cultivars, concluded that
7.5 % arose from sport mutations. According
to modern estimates, the number of such
cultivars exceeds 1,600, accounting for about
10 % of the total global rose assortment
(Haenchen & Geifert, 1978; Young & Schorr,
2007). Mutations contribute significantly to
the formation of hybrid tea roses, with about
18 % of cultivars being of mutant origin (Datta,
2018). China, India, and Japan have made
substantial contributions to the development
of mutation breeding of ornamental plants.
In India, a large number of ornamental crop
mutants, including roses, have been obtained
(Kharkwal & Shu, 2009), while in Japan, at least
ten mutant rose cultivars have been developed
(Nakagawa, 2009).
Studies of S. Saakov (Saakov, 1976), as well as
Z.K. Klimenko and K.I. Zykov (Rubtsova, 2003,
2005) demonstrated that mutational variability
in roses is not random but follows certain
regularities and is largely determined by the
origin of the initial cultivars. In particular,
cultivars with a complex hybridogenic
origin, as well as representatives of modern
garden groups (hybrid tea, floribunda, and
shrubs), exhibit an increased frequency of
bud mutations. Most often, such mutations
appear during the first years of a cultivar’s
existence (Rubtsova, 2003, 2005). Sarwar &
Butt (2015) also noted that the introduction
of new genotypes significantly increases the
probability of mutational changes.
An analysis of the literature indicates
that the most common manifestations of
bud mutations in roses include changes
58 Plant Introduction • 109
Rubtsova & Chyzhankova
in flower color, degree of doubleness, and
transformation of plant habit, particularly the
formation of climbing forms. Z.K. Klimenko
and K.I. Zykov (Rubtsova, 2009) established
that heterozygous cultivars, in which
desirable traits are present in a recessive
state in the genotype, are the most promising
for obtaining mutants. Both spontaneous and
induced mutations are often accompanied by
changes in coloration from dominant (pink
and red) to recessive (dark red, white, and
yellow) variants.
Thus, the literature review confirms the
important role of somatic mutations in the
formation of cultivar diversity of garden roses
and demonstrates their significant potential
for introduction, varietal studies, and breeding
of ornamental crops.
Patterns of mutational variability of traits in
garden roses
The data presented in the table further
demonstrate that somatic (bud) mutations
are widespread and multidirectional within
the NBG garden rose collection. Among the
560 cultivars maintained in the collection
(Rubtsova, 2008), 27 cultivars (4.8 %) are of
mutant origin.
The analysis of somatic mutation
distribution among rose garden groups showed
that frequency varied by group (Tables 1 & 2).
The highest mutation frequency was observed
in shrub roses (12.3 %) and climbing roses
(9.6 %). In hybrid tea and floribunda cultivars,
the frequency of detected mutations was
lower (4.1 % and 3.6 %, respectively). Such
differences may be associated with the genetic
characteristics of cultivars in different garden
groups, as well as with the complex hybrid
origin of many modern roses.
During long-term phenotypic observations
of rose cultivars in the NBG collection,
numerous manifestations of somatic (bud)
mutational variability were recorded,
affecting both qualitative and quantitative
morphological traits important for cultivar
identification. Most frequently, mutational
changes involved perianth color, pigmentation
intensity, degree of floral duplication, and
plant growth habit.
Significance of varietal studies in roses
Somatic rose mutants exhibit distinct,
morphologically fixed differences that can be
used for variety identification, justification
of the distinctness criterion, and testing of
trait stability. Thus, the mutational variability
in garden roses is not random but follows a
consistent pattern. It confirms the important
role of somatic mutations as both a source of
new varieties and an object of scientific study
of varieties. At the same time, the presence of
mutants in old garden groups such as Gallica,
Damask, Bourbon, and Moss (Rubtsova, 1982;
Rubtsova & Chyzhankova, 2019; Rubtsova et al.,
2025) indicates that the mutation process is a
universal phenomenon and is not limited to
modern breeding forms.
Direction of mutational changes
An analysis of the nature of phenotypic changes
showed that the vast majority of mutations
affect flower color. In contrast, mutations
in plant habit (the transition from bush to
climbing forms) occur much less frequently.
This is consistent with the generally accepted
view of the pigment system’s high mutability
in roses. In most cases, changes in flower color
follow a direction from dominant to recessive
forms, in particular:
• red or crimson-red → pink (e.g., in
cultivars ‘Akvarel Rose Park’, ‘Chicago
Peace’, ‘Red Rugostar’, ‘Prodige Ecarlate’);
• pink → white (e.g., in cultivars ‘Leda’,
‘Nova Zembla’, ‘White Grootendorst’,
‘White Dorothy’);
• yellow or apricot → lighter or modified
shades.
At the same time, in some cases an
intensification of anthocyanin pigmentation
was observed, for example in the cultivar ‘Black
Beauty’, which originated from the yellow
cultivar ‘Frisco’, or in ‘Red Leonardo da Vinci’
with its deep red coloration. Such cases are
particularly valuable for cultivar assessment
and study.
Relationship between mutations, origin, and
garden groups
Among mutant cultivars, representatives of
modern garden groups, hybrid tea, floribunda,
shrubs, and climbing roses predominate. This
supports the view that a complex hybridogenic
origin and a high level of heterozygosity
contribute to an increased frequency of
somatic mutations. Such mutations often
manifest as stable qualitative changes that
Plant Introduction • 109 59
Somatic mutations in introduced garden roses in the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden
No. Mutant cultivar Perianth color,
floral duplication
or growth habit
peculiarities of the
derivative cultivar
Original cultivar Garden
group
Year of
introduction
Perianth color,
floral duplication
or growth habit
peculiarities of the
original cultivar
1 ‘Abracadabra’ striped ‘Hocus Pocus’ Floribunda 2001 striped
2 ‘Akvarel Rose
Park’
pink ‘Dame de Coeur’ Hybrid tea 1958 red
3 ‘Baron Girod de
l’Ain’
red with white petal
margins
‘Eugene Furst’ Hybrid
perpetual
1875 red
4 ‘Black Beauty’ dark red ‘Frisco’ Floribunda 1986 yellow
5 ‘Chapeau de
Napoleon’
more double ‘Centifolia Muscosa
Communis’
Moss 1696 less double
6 ‘Chicago Peace’ pink ‘Gloria Dei’ Hybrid tea 1935 yellow
7 ‘Fantasia
Mondiale’
light yellow ‘Mondiale’ Hybrid tea 1993 yellow
8 ‘Flirt’ light pink ‘Sommerwind’ Shrub 1985 pink
9 ‘Gloria Dei,
Climbing’
climbing ‘Gloria Dei’ Hybrid tea 1935 bush
10 ‘Iceberg,
Climbing’
climbing ‘Iceberg’ Floribunda 1958 bush
11 ‘Kakhovka’ pink ‘Flammentanz’ Climber 1952 red
12 ‘Khersones’ crimson ‘Décor Arlequin’ Shrub 1978 crimson pink with
yellow reverse of petals
13 ‘Kronenbourg’ red with yellow
reverse
‘Gloria Dei’ Hybrid tea 1935 yellow with crimson-
pink margins
14 ‘Leda’ white ‘Pink Leda’ Damask 1949 pink
15 ‘Madam Pierre Oger’ light pink ‘Reine Victoria’ Bourbon 1872 pink
16 ‘Margarita Hilling’ pink ‘Nevada’ Shrub 1927 white
17 ‘New Dawn’ light pink ‘Dr. W. van Fleet’ Climber 1899 pink
18 ‘Nova Zembla’ white ‘C.F. Meyer’ Shrub 1893 pink
19 ‘Pestraya
Fantasia’
crimson-red with
golden streaks and
petal reverse
‘Kronenboug’ Hybrid tea 1966 red with yellow
reverse
20 ‘Pink
Grootendorst’
pink ‘F.J. Grootendorst’ Shrub 1918 crimson
21 ‘Red Intuition’ red with stripes ‘Belle Rouge’ Hybrid tea 1996 red
22 ‘Rote Dagmar
Hastrup’
red ‘Fru Dagmar
Hastrup’
Shrub 1914 pink
23 ‘Versicolor’ light pink with
crimson stripes
Rosa gallica L.
var. officinalis
(Andrews) Thory
Gallica ca. 1160 pink
24 ‘White Dorothy’ white ‘Dorothy Perkins’ Climber 1901 pink
25 ‘White Grootendorst’ white ‘Pink Grootendorst’ Shrub 1923 pink
26 ‘Yellow Romantica’ yellow ‘Colette’ Climber 1995 apricot
27 Rosa roxburghii
var. plena Rehder
double-flowered Rosa roxburghii
Tratt.
Shrub 1825 single-flowered
Table 1. Comparative characteristics of somatic mutants and their original cultivars of introduced garden roses.
60 Plant Introduction • 109
Rubtsova & Chyzhankova
are maintained over a long historical period
(e.g., in cultivars ‘Versicolor’ and ‘Chapeau de
Napoleon’).
Mutations of plant habit
A separate group consists of mutants with
transformations of plant habit, in particular
the transition from bush forms to climbing
ones (e.g., in cultivars ‘Gloria Dei Climbing’,
‘Iceberg Climbing’, and ‘Electron Climbing’).
Such mutations have high practical value,
as they significantly expand the possibilities
for using a cultivar in landscaping without
altering the cultivar’s main decorative
characteristics (Rakhmetov et al., 2019;
Kolesnychenko et al., 2020).
Stability of mutational expression and trait
reversion
An assessment of phenotypic stability in
somatic mutants showed that, alongside stable
forms that retained altered traits over several
growing seasons, the collection also included
cases of partial or complete reversion to
the phenotype of the original cultivar. Such
phenomena were particularly observed in
mutants with altered flower color, in which
shoots with different types of pigmentation
appeared simultaneously on the same plant.
This is especially characteristic of mutants
with modified flower color (e.g., in cultivars
‘White Grootendorst’ and ‘Versicolor’),
underscoring the need for long-term testing
of such forms during cultivar trials and
stability assessment. In particular, in the
cultivar ‘White Grootendorst’ (Fig. 1 A), pink
flowers frequently appear, as in the original
cultivar ‘Pink Grootendorst’. In the striped
cultivar ‘Versicolor’ (Fig. 1 B), a mass reversion
to the original pink coloration of Rosa gallica
var. officinalis was observed.
The fact of reversion is of great importance
for cultivar assessment and stability
testing, as it indicates the need for long-
term observations of mutant forms before
they can be considered as potential new
cultivars. At the same time, stable somatic
mutants that retain their phenotypic traits
over a long period may be regarded as full-
fledged objects of cultivar trials. Particularly
active spontaneous mutational variability
was recorded by us in 2020: six spontaneous
mutations were identified based on
phenotypic changes (flower color), and one
mutation concerned plant habit:
• ‘Charlotte Wheatcroft’ (red) → pink
(Fig. 1C);
• ‘Prodige Ecarlate’ (crimson-red) → pink;
• ‘Red Leonardo da Vinci’ (red) → dark
red;
• ‘Red Rugostar’ (red) → pink (Fig. 1D);
• ‘Vintazh’ (yellow) → pink;
• ‘Weg der Sinne’ (purple) → white;
• ‘Electron’ → ‘Electron’ climbing.
Such intensive mutational variability may
be associated with specific environmental
physical factors in Kyiv in 2020 – a warm
winter with almost no snow, and extreme
weather conditions in May, when the mean
monthly temperature was 2.8 °C below
the climatic norm. In addition, 122 mm of
precipitation fell in May, which amounted to
230 % of the climatic norm.
We also selected a spontaneous bud
mutation with pink flower color from the red-
flowered cultivar ‘Dame de Coeur’ (Fig. 2 A).
This mutant cultivar was named ‘Akvarel Rose
Park’ (Fig. 2 B) and successfully passed the
official state cultivar testing. An authorship
certificate and a patent were obtained for this
cultivar.
Garden group Number of cultivars in
the collection
Cultivars with detected
somatic mutations
Frequency of mutations
(%)
Hybrid tea 146 6 4.1
Floribunda 84 3 3.6
Shrub 65 8 12.3
Climber 52 5 9.6
Old roses (Moss, Damask, Bourbon,
Hybrid perpetual, Gallica)
75 5 6.7
Table 2. Frequency of somatic mutations in different garden groups of roses in the collection of the NBG.
Plant Introduction • 109 61
Somatic mutations in introduced garden roses in the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden
BA
DC
Figure 1. Reversion to the phenotype of the original cultivar in the garden roses: A – ‘Pink Grootendorst’;
B – ‘Versicolor’; C – ‘Charlotte Wheatcroft’; D – ‘Red Rugostar’.
Analysis of the obtained data showed that
mutational variability in roses is not random
in nature, but exhibits regular patterns
associated with the origin of the source
cultivars and their affinity with particular
garden groups. It was established that cultivars
whose origin is closer to primitive wild rose
species (acyanous, single-flowered, small-
flowered forms) more frequently produce
somatic mutants with an increased expression
of traits such as anthocyanin pigmentation
intensity, doubleness, and flower size. In
contrast, cultivars of modern, evolutionarily
advanced garden groups, primarily hybrid
tea, floribunda, and grandiflora, which are
products of long-term intragroup and close-
related hybridizations, are characterized by
the predominance of mutants with reduced
expression of these traits.
The results obtained are consistent with
the concepts of K.I. Zykov (Rubtsova, 2005)
concerning the regular nature of mutational
variability in garden roses. The results confirm
that the direction of the mutational process
depends on the genotype and breeding history
of the original cultivars. Within the collection, a
trend is observed in which cultivars of modern
garden groups are dominated by mutations
that reduce flower color intensity or other
quantitative traits. In contrast, in less selective
‘advanced’ forms, mutants with enhanced
phenotypic traits arise more frequently.
Other types of mutations
In addition to somatic mutations that
serve as a source of material for selecting
new cultivars, roses also display a range of
mutations that appear as developmental
abnormalities. Although such changes are
not of practical interest for breeding, they
have important theoretical significance.
These include fasciation, flower proliferation,
petalization, heteromorphism, chorisis, and
several other forms of teratomorphosis.
62 Plant Introduction • 109
Rubtsova & Chyzhankova
The characteristics of these anomalies have
been analyzed in detail in our previous studies
(Rubtsova et al., 2023).
Significance of the revealed patterns for
cultivar assessment
The established patterns of mutational
variability in roses are of great practical
importance for cultivar evaluation. The
predictable direction of mutations allows
for a more substantiated assessment of the
origin of phenotypic differences arising
within a cultivar. It helps to distinguish
random variability from stable cultivar
traits. The results of the study indicate that
somatic mutations in roses can serve as an
important source for the development of
new cultivars, which, provided that trait
expression is stable, meet the criteria of
distinctness and may be eligible for legal
protection. The integration of data on the
origin of source cultivars, the nature of trait
inheritance, and the direction of mutational
changes provides a scientific basis for
the practical assessment and breeding of
ornamental crops.
A dependence of flower variability on the
color of the original form was established.
Analysis of bud mutations under natural
conditions showed that the petals of the
vast majority of cultivars exhibit the highest
variability and are partially or completely
colored in pink or red tones. Pink and red
coloration in roses is dominant over other
color types. Therefore, under natural
conditions, cultivars with dominant flower
coloration are the most mutable. A study of
the origin of the source cultivars showed that
during spontaneous mutagenesis, recessive
traits of ancestral forms are most often
expressed.
Mutation breeding can substantially
contribute to the genetic improvement of
ornamental plants and to increasing their
socio-economic benefits. Mutation has great
potential to modify one or more traits of an
outstanding cultivar without altering the
remaining characteristics, often preserving
otherwise unique genotypes. The collection
of mutant rose cultivars represents valuable
material for theoretical generalizations and
for analyses of origin, inheritance, and the
direction of phenotypic changes.
Conclusions
1. As a result of long-term cultivar trials
studies, it was established that the
mutational variability of traits in garden
rose cultivars is not random but follows
regular and largely predictable patterns
determined by the genotype, origin, and
breeding history of the initial cultivars.
2. A relationship was identified between
the direction of mutational changes
and the affiliation of cultivars with
particular garden groups. Cultivars that
are closer in origin to primitive wild
rose species more frequently produce
somatic mutants with an increased
expression of traits such as anthocyanin
BA
Figure 2. Spontaneous bud mutation with shift of red perianth color to pink: A – original cultivar ‘Dame de
Coeur’; B – derivative cultivar ‘Akvarel Rose Park’.
Plant Introduction • 109 63
Somatic mutations in introduced garden roses in the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden
pigmentation intensity and double-
floweriness. In contrast, cultivars of
modern, evolutionarily advanced groups
(i.e., Hybrid tea, Floribunda, Grandiflora)
are characterized by a predominant
occurrence of mutants with reduced
expression of these traits.
3. It was established that, alongside stable
somatic mutants, cases of partial or
complete reversion of phenotypic traits
to the original cultivar are observed
in rose collections, which emphasizes
the need for long-term observations of
mutant forms during cultivar trials and
stability testing.
4. The identified regularities of mutational
variability are of significant practical
importance for cultivar assessment,
as they make it possible to predict the
direction of phenotypic changes and
to select initial forms for mutation
breeding of ornamental crops.
5. Provided that stable expression of
traits is ensured, somatic rose mutants
may be regarded as promising objects
for cultivar trials and legal protection,
thereby expanding opportunities for
the development of new cultivars and
the enrichment of the assortment of
ornamental plants.
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64 Plant Introduction • 109
Rubtsova & Chyzhankova
Соматичні мутації сортів інтродукованих садових троянд у колекції
Національного ботанічного саду імені М.М. Гришка
Олена Рубцова *, Валентина Чижанькова
Національний ботанічний сад імені М.М. Гришка НАН України, вул. Садово-Ботанічна, 1, Київ, 01103,
Україна; * olenarubtsova@gmail.com
У статті проаналізовано прояви соматичної (брунькової) мутаційної мінливості ознак у сортів
садових троянд (Rosa L.) в умовах колекції Національного ботанічного саду імені М.М. Гришка НАН
України. Дослідження ґрунтується на результатах багаторічних фенотипових спостережень за
сортами різного походження та належності до садових груп. Встановлено, що мутаційна мінливість
троянд має закономірний, а не випадковий характер і значною мірою визначається генотипом,
походженням і селекційною історією вихідних сортів. Показано залежність спрямованості
мутаційних змін від належності сортів до певних садових груп: у форм, ближчих за походженням до
диких видів, частіше виникають мутанти з підвищеним рівнем прояву декоративних ознак, тоді як
у сортів сучасних еволюційно просунутих груп переважають мутації зі зниженням інтенсивності їх
прояву. Виявлено випадки як стабільного збереження мутантних ознак, так і часткової або повної
реверсії до фенотипу вихідного сорту. Обґрунтовано практичне значення соматичних мутацій для
сортовивчення, ідентифікації сортів, оцінки їх стабільності та використання в мутаційній селекції
декоративних культур.
Ключові слова: Rosa, садові троянди, соматичні мутації, брунькові мутації, мутаційна мінливість, сортовивчення, стабільність
ознак, декоративні рослини
Rubtsova, O.L., & Chyzhankova, V.I. (2019). Old
garden roses. Veles, Kyiv. (In Ukrainian)
Saakov, S. (1976). Wild- und Gartenrosen: Herkunft,
Abstammung, Entwicklung, Verwendung. VEB
Deutscher Landwirtschatftsverlag, Berlin.
Sarwar, A., & Butt, S.J. (2015). Evaluation of mutant lines
of Rosa species. Advances in Crop Science and Technology,
3(5), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.4172/2329-8863.1000196
Young, M.A., & Schorr, P. (2007). Modern roses. 12th
ed. American Rose Society.
https://doi.org/10.4172/2329-8863.1000196
|
| id | oai:ojs2.plantintroduction.org:article-1696 |
| institution | Plant Introduction |
| keywords_txt_mv | keywords |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-03-21T02:00:20Z |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publisher | M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine |
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| spelling | oai:ojs2.plantintroduction.org:article-16962026-03-21T01:16:30Z Somatic mutations in introduced garden rose cultivars in the collection of the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden Соматичні мутації сортів інтродукованих садових троянд у колекції Національного ботанічного саду імені М.М. Гришка Rubtsova, Olena Chyzhankova, Valentina The article analyzes the manifestations of somatic (bud) mutational variability of traits in garden roses (Rosa L.) under the conditions of the collection of the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The study is based on the results of long-term phenotypic observations of cultivars of different origin and garden groups. It was established that mutational variability in roses is not random but follows regular and largely predictable patterns determined by the genotype, origin, and breeding history of the initial cultivars. A relationship between the direction of mutational changes and the affinity of cultivars with particular garden groups was revealed: forms closer in origin to wild rose species more frequently produce mutants with enhanced expression of decorative traits, whereas cultivars of modern, evolutionarily advanced groups predominantly give rise to mutants with reduced expression of these traits. Both stable somatic mutants and cases of partial or complete reversion to the phenotype of the original cultivar were recorded. The practical significance of somatic mutations for cultivar assessment, cultivar identification, trait stability assessment, and mutation breeding in ornamental plants is substantiated. У статті проаналізовано прояви соматичної (брунькової) мутаційної мінливості ознак у сортів садових троянд (Rosa L.) в умовах колекції Національного ботанічного саду імені М.М. Гришка НАН України. Дослідження ґрунтується на результатах багаторічних фенотипових спостережень за сортами різного походження та належності до садових груп. Встановлено, що мутаційна мінливість троянд має закономірний, а не випадковий характер і значною мірою визначається генотипом, походженням і селекційною історією вихідних сортів. Показано залежність спрямованості мутаційних змін від належності сортів до певних садових груп: у форм, ближчих за походженням до диких видів, частіше виникають мутанти з підвищеним рівнем прояву декоративних ознак, тоді як у сортів сучасних еволюційно просунутих груп переважають мутації зі зниженням інтенсивності їх прояву. Виявлено випадки як стабільного збереження мутантних ознак, так і часткової або повної реверсії до фенотипу вихідного сорту. Обґрунтовано практичне значення соматичних мутацій для сортовивчення, ідентифікації сортів, оцінки їх стабільності та використання в мутаційній селекції декоративних культур. M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine 2026-03-20 Article Article application/pdf https://www.plantintroduction.org/index.php/pi/article/view/1696 10.46341/PI2025031 Plant Introduction; No 109 (2026): Early view; 55-64 Інтродукція Рослин; № 109 (2026): Early view; 55-64 2663-290X 1605-6574 en https://www.plantintroduction.org/index.php/pi/article/view/1696/1586 Copyright (c) 2026 Olena Rubtsova, Valentina Chyzhankova http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 |
| spellingShingle | Rubtsova, Olena Chyzhankova, Valentina Соматичні мутації сортів інтродукованих садових троянд у колекції Національного ботанічного саду імені М.М. Гришка |
| title | Соматичні мутації сортів інтродукованих садових троянд у колекції Національного ботанічного саду імені М.М. Гришка |
| title_alt | Somatic mutations in introduced garden rose cultivars in the collection of the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden |
| title_full | Соматичні мутації сортів інтродукованих садових троянд у колекції Національного ботанічного саду імені М.М. Гришка |
| title_fullStr | Соматичні мутації сортів інтродукованих садових троянд у колекції Національного ботанічного саду імені М.М. Гришка |
| title_full_unstemmed | Соматичні мутації сортів інтродукованих садових троянд у колекції Національного ботанічного саду імені М.М. Гришка |
| title_short | Соматичні мутації сортів інтродукованих садових троянд у колекції Національного ботанічного саду імені М.М. Гришка |
| title_sort | соматичні мутації сортів інтродукованих садових троянд у колекції національного ботанічного саду імені м.м. гришка |
| url | https://www.plantintroduction.org/index.php/pi/article/view/1696 |
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