Conservation and morphological variability studies in Rosa cathayensis

Roses are growing wild in Palampur area of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. A survey was conducted in the rose growing areas for collection of distinct strains of wild rose species for their domestication, evaluation, conservation, morphological studies and further utilization in breeding and as suitable indigenous rose rootstocks. Five strains of R. cathayensis were collected and conserved in germplasm plots of Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur (H.P.). R. cathayensis is growing wild since long and has been studied for variability in morphological characteristics and root regeneration capabilities of different strains. The collected and domesticated strains of R. cathayensis were distinct in terms of morphological characters and showed better rooting in stem cuttings than that in R. indica var. odorata.