The ancestor of the roses could have had yellow and not jostled petals and leaves with seven leaflets. Credit: Anna Shvets:
The red roses, the symbol of love, were probably yellow in the past, indicates a great genomic analysis by researchers from the forest university of Beijing, in China. Roses of all colors, including white, red, pink and peach, belong to the genus Rosa, which is a member of the Rosaceae family.
The reconstruction of ancestral features by genomic analysis revealed that all the roads go back to a common ancestor – a flower with a single petal in yellow color and seven leaflets.
The results are published in Natural plants.
Regarding almost 30% of sales of the cut flower market, roses are the most cultivated ornamental plants and have been successfully domesticated to reflect the aesthetic preferences of each era.
It all started with the Breeding Renaissance rose in the 1700s, marked by the crossing of ancient wild Chinese roses and old European cultivars – plants have selectively high by human intervention to develop a desirable characteristic.
Currently, we have more than 150 to 200 species of roses and more than 35,000 cultivars, displaying a wide range of frequencies, perfumes and flower colors. However, global climate change has prompted pink breeders to focus on purely cosmetic lines with varieties of reproductive roses which are more resistant to stressors of stress such as drought, diseases and easier to take care of.
The borrowing of genetic resources from varieties of wild roses, which offer precious features such as scent and resistance to diseases, presents a promising strategy for cultivars of resilient roses and low maintenance.
The sequencing of the genome of 205 samples representing 84 species reveals an evolutionary and geographic history of the genus Rosa. Credit: Natural plants (2025). DOI: 10.1038 / S41477-025-01955-5
A clear understanding of the origin and evolution of the genus Rosa, both wild and cultivated varieties, can not only advance reproductive efforts, but also help the conservation of almost lined rose varieties.
With this in mind, the researchers collected 205 samples of more than 80 species of Rosa, covering 84% of what is documented in the “Flora of China”.
The samples were then analyzed using genomic sequencing, population genetics and other methods to retrace their ancestral features. They studied 707 copying genes discovered as a set of genetic markers preserved such as nucleotide polymorphisms – the most common genetic variation type found in DNA – which helped them to trace evolutionary and geographic history and the links between pink species.
The reconstruction of ancestral features showed that the common ancestor of the samples studied was a yellow flower with a single row of petals and leaves divided into seven leaflets. As the roses evolved and were domesticated, they developed new colors, distinct petals marks and the ability to flower in clusters.
The study has also provided new information to the concept that is widely accepted according to which the ROSA genre comes to Central Asia. The genetic evidence highlighted two main centers of pink diversity in China-one in the northwest dry, where the yellow roses with small leaves grow, and another in the warm and humid southwest, where the white and fragrant variety thrives.
Researchers point out that these results provide a solid base for the use of Rosa Sauvages resources, which could help recomasy and innovative farm of modern roses.
More information:
Bixuan Cheng et al, phenotypic and genomic signatures through the wild species of Rosa open New Horizons for the reproduction of modern roses, Natural plants (2025). DOI: 10.1038 / S41477-025-01955-5
Valéry Malécot, an evolutionary bouquet for roses, Natural plants (2025). DOI: 10.1038 / S41477-025-01971-5
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Quote: Red, pink or white, all the roses were once yellow, known as genomic analysis (2025, April 18) recovered on April 20, 2025 from
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