Achievements in Rose Breeding at Clujnapoca, Romania, in the Last Thirty Years

Abstract

A review of the most important achievements in rose breeding at Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in the last 30 years is presented. During this period of time more than 90.000 hybrid individuals were obtained and checked concerning their ornamental value and em average•of 2.62% of selection efficiency was encountered. Hybrid combinations with the highest rates of successfit! selections are presented, as examples jar two years of artificial pollination programs. The actual results of this extensive breeding work are represented by nine new rose varieties released in Romania between 1970-1994 (Foe de tabara, Luchian, Simfonia, Rosabunda, Romstar, Incandescent, Auriu de Cluj, Rosalinda and Vigorosa) which are destined to open-air growing either for cutjlowers or as ornamentals in parks, gardens etc. The main growing characteristics of these new varieties are presented as well as their field resistance to blackspot, mildew and rust. The ornamental features of these varieties are also presented both in synthetic tables and in color photos. Additionally, the main growing and ornamental characteristics of other fourteen recent selections of rose are discussed, as well as their behavior in the National Comparative Trial Network. Finally, the prospects of rose breeding activity, at Cluj-Napoca are considered, both from a traditional point of view (for ornamental purposes) and ji•om a new and rather exciting one as a possible means of preventing soil erosion on steep slopes on which there are no or few choices for other antierosional crops.

Breeding of New Ornamental Varieties:Rose

“…Double flowers are known to be inherited as monogenic traits in many plant species and several are transmitted as dominant genes. Inheritance of characters like double flowers, pink colour and prickles has been reported to be controlled either as single dominant genes or as complementary genes in crosses between diploid R. multiflora hybrids 37,38 . In spite of significant progress in rose breeding in recent years, there is an unlimited field for the improvement of garden roses.…”

The use of genetic resources in rose breeding and creation of new rose cultivars through hybridization and selection

“…The new cultivars obtained are primarily intended for use in parks, gardens, and as cut flowers, and they offer a wide range of colour, form, scent, recurrent blooming and hardiness combinations. Even though there are various methods of inducing artificial variability, the primary breeding method used for all species, was artificial hybridization, followed by selection, which resulted in positive outcomes for both rose and other Rosaceae species (Wagner et al, 2000;Sestras and Sestras, 2023).…”

“…Given that the experimental fields of HRS are situated near Feleac Hill and Forest, in a region characterized by hills and forests that are susceptible to soil erosion and landslides (Sestras et al, 2018(Sestras et al, , 2019, it is necessary to recommence the research on developing varieties that can effectively utilize degraded land, which was initiated more than 25 years ago (Wagner, 2000), while considering the current conditions. The issues pertain to the rapid expansion of urban areas and the impact of urban infrastructure on the topography of adjacent hills and forests, as well as the exacerbation of green area degradation, erosion and landslides.…”