Identification of some fiber characteristics in Rosa sp. and Nerium oleander L. wood grown under different ecological conditions

Climate-dependent changes in wood anatomical characteristics were studied for Rosa sp. and Nerium oleander sp. grown in phytosociological areas. For this purpose, wood samples were taken from the individual wood species grown in Antalya, Eskisehir, and Kastamonu provenances, where Terrestrial, Black Sea, and Mediterranean climate types prevail, and 11 anatomical characters were identified or calculated. As a result of the study, it has been determined that the climate has large effects on the characteristics that are the subject of the study and that each characteristic is at a higher level in individuals grown in areas where different climate types prevail. The highest values in Rosa species were obtained in the individuals grown under Terrestrial climate type in all characteristics except for LW (lumen widths), EC (elasticity coefficients), and FF (F-Factors.) Whereas in Nerium oleander, the highest values were obtained in individuals grown in the Mediterranean climate type in FL (fibre lengths), LW (lumen widths), FR (felting ratios), and EC (elasticity coefficients). For the same species type, in the Terrestrial climate, RIJID (rigidity coefficients), MUHT (Muhlstep ratios), and RUNK (Runkel ratios), and in the Black Sea climate DWT (double wall thicknesses) and WT (wall thicknesses) characteristics had high values.

Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Placement of Rosa arabica Crép. (Rosaceae), a Critically Endangered Plant Species

The Egyptian narrowly endemic and critically endangered plant species Rosa arabica Crép. was studied employing a taxonomic and molecular approach. Morphological investigations, distance analysis, and phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that R. arabica is a distinct species with great affinity to R. canina and differentiated from R. rubiginosa. Molecular identification based on the sequences of multiple markers single or in combination ITS, matK, rbcL, and trnL-F succeeded in identifying R. arabica at genus and species levels. We evaluated the potential of each marker and a combination of the nuclear ITS -Internal Transcribed Spacer- with one of the plastid markers, matK, rbcL, or trnL-F, to accurately identify Rosa species. All of them were successful in identifying R. arabica. Classification based on DNA sequences shows that R. arabica is placed within section Caninae in a clade comprising R. canina and R. rubiginosa. Moreover, R. arabica is closely related to other European Rosa species. In conclusion, our results indicate that the four DNA markers can provide species resolution in the context of the genus Rosa and relatives, aiming to characterize morphology and genetic diversity in the ecological and economically important genus Rosa.

Assessment of Antimicrobial Activity and total Polyphenol Content of Rosa multiflora and Rosa wichuraiana

The fruit of Rosa multiflora has been used as traditional herbal medicine in Asian countries. The present investigation was undertaken to study the antimicrobial activity and total polyphenol content of hexane, ether, ethyl acetate, water fraction of methanol extract of fruit and flower from Rosa multiflora and Rosa wichuraiana. Antimicrobial activity of the mentioned fractions against 3 gram-positive and 4 gram-negative bacteria using disk diffussion method. The measurement of minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) showed that the ethyl acetate fraction of the two Rosa species is the most effective against the tested bacteria. The total polyphenol content of ethyl acetate fraction of the two Rosa species is higher than the other fractions. The results indicate the antimicrobial activity was related with the total polyphenol content and the fruit and flower of the two Rosa species can be considered as a natural source of antimicrobial agents.