Flavonoid and enzyme polymorphisms and taxonomic organisation of Rosa sections: Carolinae, Cinnamomeae, Pimpinellifoliae and Synstylae

Sixty-seven species belonging to four sections of the genus Rosa were analysed by means of flavonoids and isozyme polymorphism (esterase, leucine amino peptidase and superoxyde dismutase). A clear delineation of most of Pimpinellifoliae and Synstylae was observed. A more subtle dichotomy was observed for the Cinnamomeae, which showed two groups: the first very close to the hypothetical ancestor of wild roses, the second much more advanced. The Carolinae section was associated with the first group of Cinnamomeae.