Morphological, biochemical, and molecular characterizations of rosehip (Rosa canina L.) genotypes naturally grown in the Eastern Central Anatolia region of Türkiye

Wild rosehip (Rosa canina L.) is a valuable genetic resource due to its broad geographic distribution, high adaptability, and economic and medicinal significance. Despite its importance, comprehensive analyses of its morphological, pomological, and biochemical diversity remain limited. Understanding this variation is crucial for breeding programs focused on improving fruit quality and stress resilience. Additionally, molecular characterization provides insights into genetic relationships, supporting conservation efforts and the selection of superior genotypes. Twenty-nine wild R. canina genotypes were evaluated based on morphological, pomological, and biochemical traits. Fruit weight varied from 0.81 to 2.39 g, fruit width from 9.02 to 14.75 mm, and fruit length from 15.23 to 28.93 mm. The fruit-flesh ratio ranged between 64.22 and 90.93 %, while soluble solid content varied from 13.8 to 17.1 % Brix. Among the phenolic compounds, catechin (91.37 mg/100 g), aminobenzoic acid (71.95 mg/100 g), and epicatechin (67.76 mg/100 g) exhibited the highest variation. Total phenolic content ranged from 2507.14 to 3736.55 mg GAE/100 g, while vitamin C content varied between 424.62 and 616.36 mg AsAE/100 g. Molecular characterization using ISSR markers revealed high genetic diversity, with a polymorphism rate of 85.51 %. Genetic similarity among genotypes ranged from 0.55 to 0.84, and UPGMA clustering analysis grouped them into two major clusters. Among the studied genotypes, ‘K7’, ‘K9’, ‘K15’, ‘K25’, and ‘K29’ emerged as superior selections due to their outstanding biochemical composition, fruit quality, and genetic distinctiveness. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the first three principal components accounted for 46.62 % of the total variation. PC1 (19.59 %) was primarily associated with total phenolic content (0.35), vitamin C (0.35), and total flavonoids (0.34), underscoring their role in antioxidant capacity. PC2 (15.74 %) was influenced by seed weight (0.42), fruit weight (0.39), and seed number (0.32), emphasizing the trade-off between seed load and edible fruit content. PC3 (11.28 %) was linked to leaf area (0.41) and leaf length (0.40), reflecting their impact on plant vigor. Multiple regression analysis further confirmed that total phenolic content was significantly correlated with vitamin C (β = 1.00, p ≤ 0.00), suggesting their potential as selection criteria in breeding programs. This study demonstrates the significant genetic and phenotypic diversity in wild R. canina genotypes, highlighting their potential for breeding and conservation. The observed morphological and biochemical variations provide essential insights for selecting genotypes with desirable agronomic and nutritional attributes. High heterozygosity suggests strong adaptability to environmental conditions, vital for sustaining genetic diversity in natural populations. Clustering and molecular analyses further support the selection of promising genotypes for targeted breeding strategies.