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Chromosomes of Garden Roses

ANN P. WYLIE, DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY, THE UNIVERSITY, MANCHESTER, ENGLAND

A knowledge of the chromosome number of a particular rose variety is often of the greatest practical importance to the rose breeder when planning his hybridizing program, in addition to the information that cytological study of the garden roses has given us about the evolution of this genus during its long period of cultivation. The following table, therefore, brings together the chromosome numbers determined by myself (these have the index-number 1 next to the chromosome number), together with those previously published, their indexnumbers 2 to 12 corresponding to the numbered references in the bibliography at the end. The total of 234 varieties covers all the major groups, ancient and modern. The sources of my material are given in the third column of the table and the key to the letters used as abbreviations is as follows: B. John Innes. Horticultural Institution, Bayfordbury, Herts. K. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 0. National Rose Society's Trial Grounds, Oaklands, St. Albans. S. Col. F. C. Stem, Highdown, Goring-by-Sea, Sussex. T. G. S. Thomas, Hilling's Nurseries, Chobham, Surrey. W. Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens, Wisley, Surrey. The varieties in any one class are subdivided according to degree of polyploidy and arranged chronologically within each subdivision. Details about origins are taken principally from Modern Roses IV.

CHINA ROSES Chromosome number Source of material Origin Date Breeder
Miss Lowe 14, diploid T. Single red R. chinensis   unknown
Single Pink 14, diploid T.      
Mutabilis 14, diploid        
Old Blush China 14, diploid     1793 Parsons
Le Vesuve 14, diploid T.   1825 Laffay
Violet Bengal Rose 14, diploid W.   1827  
Nemesis 14, diploid T.   1836 Bizard
Mme. L. Messimy 14, diploid W.   1887 Guillot
Aurore 14, diploid T.   1897 Schwartz
Oakington Ruby (R. chinensis minima) 14, diploid B.   1933 Bloom
Pink Nymph (R. chinensis minima) 14, diploid B.      
TRIPLOIDS:          
Hermosa 21, triploid T. W.   1840 Marcheseau
Cl. Cramoisi Superieur 21, triploid W. Sport of Cramoisi Superieur 1885 Coutourier

 

NOISETTES Chromosome number Source of material Origin Date Breeder
Champney's Pink Cluster 14, diploid T. (R. chinensis X R. moschata 1816 Champney
Blush Noisette 14, diploid   (F2 from above cross) 1819 Noisette
Desprez a Fleurs Jaunes 14, diploid T.   1838 Desprez
Celine Forestier 14, diploid T.   1842 Trouillard
Fortune's Double Yellow 14, diploid S. (= R. odorata pseudindica) 1845 (Fortune)
Marechal Niel 14, diploid T. (Chromatella X unknown) 1864 Pradel
W.A. Richardson 14, diploid T. (Reve d'Or X unknown) 1875 Ducher
Alister Stella Gray 14, diploid T.   1894 Paul
Mme. Plantier 21, triploid S.   1835 Plantier
Mme. Alfred Carriere 21, triploid T.   1879 Schwartz
Gloire de Dijon 28, tetraploid T. (Souvenir de la Malmaison X a Tea) 1853 Jacotot

 

TEA ROSES Chromosome number Source of material Origin Date Breeder
Marie van Houtte 14, diploid Scott Mme. de Tartas X Mme. Falcot 1871 Ducher
Anna Olivier 14, diploid T.   1873 Ducher
Mlle. F. Kreuger 14, diploid T. C. Mermet X Gen. Schablikline 1879 Nabonnand
Archduc Joseph 14, Diploid T. Mme. Lombard X unknown 1892 Nabonnand
Mme. Antoine Mari Tillier 14, diploid T.   1900 Mari
Homére 21, triploid T.   1858 Robert& Moreau
Paul Nabonnand 21, triploid T.   1877 Nabonnand
Papa Gontier 21, triploid T.   1833 Nabonnand
Comtesse F. Hamilton 21, triploid T.   1892 Nabonnand
Noella Nabonnand 21, triploid T. (Reine M. Henriette X Bardou Job) 1901 Nabonnand
Lady Hillingdon 21, triploid Jackman (Papa Gontier X Mme. Hoste) 1910 Lowe and Shawyer
Souv. de G. Nabonnand 28, tetraploid T.   1920 Nabonnand
           

 

Bourbon roses Chromosome number Source of material Origin Date Breeder
Gloire de Rosomanes 21, triploid     1825 Vibert
Souvenir de la Malmaison 21, triploid     1843 Béluze
Kathleen Harrop 21, triploid T. Sport of Zepherine Drouhin 1919 Dickson
Souvenir de St. Annes 21, triploid T. Sport of Souvenire de la Malmaison 1950 Hillings
Louise Odier 28, tetraploid W.   1851 Margottin
Mme. Pierre Oger 28, tetraploid T., W. Sport of La Reine Victoria 1878 Oger
Gruss an Teplitz 28, tetraploid T. (Gloire de Rosaomanes X Papa Gontier) X (Sir J. Paxton X Fallemberg) 1897 Geschwind
Mme. Isaac Periere 28, tetraploid K.   1881 Garcon

 

Hybrid China Roses Chromosome number Source of material Origin Date Breeder
"Original Hybrid China"

21, triploid

    1815 Brown
Malton 28, tetraploid   chinensis-gallica hybrid 1830 Laffay
Athalin 28, tetraploid   Bourbon-gallica hybrid 1830 Laffay
Brennus 28, tetraploid   Bourbon-gallica hybrid 1830 Laffay
General Allard 28, tetraploid   Bourbon-gallica hybrid 1830 Laffay
           

 

Portland Roses Chromosome number Source of material Origin Date Breeder
Rose du Roi          
Rose du Roi a Fleures Pourpres 28, tetraploid T. Sport of Rose du Roi 1819  
           
Note: as most of the Portlands are closely related, it is reasonable to presume they are most all tetraploids

 

Hybrid Perpetual Roses Chromosome number Source of material Origin Date Breeder
Général Jacquiminot 28, tetraploid T. Gloire des Rosomanes X derivative of Rose du Roi 1852 Rousselet
Fischer Holmes 28, tetraploid K. F2 from Général Jacquiminot 1865 Verdier
Antoine Ducher 28, tetraploid     1866 Ducher
Ulrich Brunner 28, tetraploid K.   1881 Levet
Mrs. John Laing 28, tetraploid T. Francois Michelon X ? 1887 Bennett
Roger Lambelin 28, tetraploid T. Sport of Fischer Holmes 1890 Schwartz
Captain Hayward 28, tetraploid W. Triomphe de l'Exposition X ? 1893 Bennett
Frau Karl Druschski 28, tetraploid W. Merv. de Lyon X Caroline Testout 1901 Lambert

 

Hybrid Tea Roses Chromosome number Source of material Origin Date Breeder
La France 21, triploid T. Mme. Victor Verdier X Mme. Brevy 1867 Guillot
Irish Elegence 21, triploid W.   1905 Dickson
Gruss an Aachen 21, triploid T. Frau Karl Sruschki X Franz Deegan 1909 Geduldig
Mme Caroline Testout 28, tetraploid W. Mme de Tartas X Lady M. Fitzwilliam 1890 Pernet-Ducher
Soleil d'Or 28, tetraploid   (Antoine Ducher X R. foetida) F2. 1900 Pernet-Ducher
Gustav Grunerwald 28, tetraploid   Safrano X Caroline Testout 1903 Lambert
General MacArthur 28, tetraploid W.   1905 Hill
Lyon Rose 28, tetraploid   Mme M. Soupert X Soleil d'Or seedling 1907 Pernet-Ducher
Louis Barbier 28, tetraploid   Mme Bérard X R. foetida Bicolor 1909  
Mme Edouard Herriot 28, tetraploid W. Mme. C. Testout X Pernetiana variety 1912 Pernet-Ducher
Ophelia 28, tetraploid W.   1912 Paul
Red Letter Day 28, tetraploid W.   1914 Dickson
Mme. Butterfly 28, tetraploid W. Sport of Ophelia 1918 Hill
Etoile de Hollande 28, tetraploid T. Gen. MacArthur X Hadley 1919 Verschuren
Allen Chandler 28, tetraploid Jackman Hugh Dickson X ? 1923 Chandler
Rapture 28, tetraploid   Sport of Mme Butterfly 1926 Traendly & Schenck
Lady Forteviot 28, tetraploid W.   1928 Cant
Talisman 28, tetraploid   Ophelia X Souv. de Claudius Pernet 1929 Montgomery
Mevrouw G A van Rossem 28, tetraploid   Souv de Claudius Pernet X Gorgeous 1929 van Rossem
Soeur Thérèse 28, tetraploid   Gen. Jacquiminot X Juliet 1931 Gillot
Comtesse Vandal 28, tetraploid   Ophelia X Mrs. A. Ward 1932 Leenders
Condesa de Sastago 28, tetraploid T. (M. McGredy X Marechal Foch seedling) X Souv. de C. Pernet 1934 Dot
McGredy's Triumph 28, tetraploid   21/262 X Admiration 1934 McGredy
Crimson Glory 28, tetraploid T. W. C. Kordes X W E Chapman 1935 Kordes
Violinista Costa 28, tetraploid W.   1937 Nadal
New World 28, tetraploid T. Crimson Glory X Château de Clos Veugeot 1945 Jacobus
Peace 28, tetraploid K. Joahanna Hill X (M. McGredy X C P Kilman) 1946 Meilland
Tally Ho 28, tetraploid T. Charlotte Armstrong X Seedling 1948 Swim

 

Dwarf Polyantha Roses Chromosome number Source of material Origin Date Breeder
Pâquerette 14, Diploid   (R. multiflora X Dwarf Pink China) F2 1875 Guillot
Mignonette 14, Diploid   as above 1881 Guillot
Cécile Brunner 14, Diploid T. R. multiflora X Mme. De Tartas (?) 1881 Ducher
Perle d'Or 14, Diploid T. R. multiflora X Mme. Falcot 1884 Dubreuil
Mme. Norbert Levavasseur 14, Diploid Kordes Crimson Rambler X Gloire des Polyanthas 1903 Levavasseur
Louise Walter 14, Diploid   Tausendschoen X Rosel Dach 1909 Walter
Orleans Rose 14, Diploid W. Mme. Norbert Levavasseur X Polyantha seedling 1909 Levavasseur
George Elger 14, Diploid     1912 Turbat
Eugène Elger 14, Diploid     1912 Turbat
Eblouissant 14, Diploid   A china X Cramoisi Supérieure 1918 Turbat
Mevrouw Nathlie Nypels 14, Diploid W. Orleans Rose X Comtesse du Cayla 1919 Leenders
Sunshine 14, Diploid Chaplins G. Elger X W. A. Richardson 1927 Cutbush
Paul Crampel 14, Diploid T.   1930 Kersbergen

 

Hybrid Polyantha Roses, Section I: HT X dwarf poly. Chromosome number Source of material Origin Date Breeder
Rodhatte 21, triploid Chaplins Mme. Norbert Lavavasseur X Richmond 1912 Poulsen
Else Poulsen 21, triploid T. W. Orleans Rose X Red Star 1924 Poulsen
Kirsten Poulsen 21, triploid T. W. Orleans Rose X Red Star 1924 Poulsen
D. T. Poulsen 21, triploid   Orleans Rose X Vesuvius 1930 Poulsen
Red Else Poulsen 21, triploid K. Sport of Else Poulsen 1934 Koopman
Else's Rival 21, triploid W. Sport of Else Poulsen 1937 Boer
Poulsen's Yellow 21, triploid K. Mrs. W. Cutbush X Gottfried Keller 1938 Poulsen
Kirsten Poulsen Improved 21, triploid K. Sport of Kirsten Poulsen 1949 Radmore
Irene of Denmark 21, triploid O. Mrs. W. Cutbush X Edina 1951 Poulsen
Poulsen's Crimson 21+ fragment O.   1951 Poulsen
Section II: Original Hybrid Polyanthas backcrossed to H. T.'s
Karen Poulsen 28, tetraploid T. W. Kirsten Poulsen X Vesuvius 1932 Poulsen
Donald Prior 28, tetraploid Wheatcroft D. T. Poulsen X seedling 1934 Prior
Poulsen's Pink 28, tetraploid Wheatcroft Golden Salmon X yellow Pernetiana 1939 Poulsen
Dainty Maid 28, tetraploid Wheatcroft D.T. Poulsen X unknown 1938 Le Grice
Folkstone 28, tetraploid W. unknown 1938 Archer
Herzblut (aka Commonwealth) 28, tetraploid O. Holstein X Col. O. Meyer 1943 Kordes
Wilhelm Teetzman 28, tetraploid O. Holstein X Crimson Glory 1943 Kordes
August Seebauer 28, tetraploid O. Else Poulsen X Break O' Day 1944 Kordes
Schleswig (aka Maid of Honor) 28, tetraploid O. Holstein X Crimson Glory 1948 Kordes
R. W. Proctor 28, tetraploid O. Sport of A. M. Poulsen 1949 Proctor
Poulsen's Supreme 28, tetraploid O.   1950 Poulsen
Pink Anne 28, tetraploid O. Sport of A. M. Poulsen 1951 Cant
Section III: Polyanthas derived in part from R. wichuraiana (aka R. luciae)
Yvonne Rabier 14, Diploid T., W. (R. wichuraiana X a dwarf Poly) 1910 Turbat
Ellen Poulsen 14, Diploid T. Mme N. Lavavasseur X Dorothy Perkins 1911 Poulsen
Mrs. Dudley Fulton 14, Diploid     1931 Thomas
Poulsen's Copper 21, Triploid Wheatcroft Ellen Poulsen X G.A. van Rossem 1940 Poulsen
Frensham 21, Triploid T., W. (Edith Cavell X Edgar Andreau) X Crimson Glory 1946 Norman
Pinkie 21, Triploid O. China Doll X unknown 1947 Swim
Dance of Joy 28, Tetraploid Kordes Paul's Scarlet X Joseph Guy 1931 Sauvageot
Chatter 28, Tetraploid O. Minna Kordes X Betty Prior 1947 Boerner
Margraten 28, Tetraploid O. M. Kordes X D. Prior 1949 Leenders
The Mountie 28, Tetraploid O. M. Kordes X Springtime 1949 Eddie
Section IV: Polys derived, in part, from R. Rugosa
Pink Grootendorst 14, Diploid T. Sport of F.J. Grootendorst 1925 Grootendorst
Bright Eyes 21, Triploid O. (Heidkind X B. Uprichard) X Joanna Hill 1947 Duehrsen
Unclassified Polys, origins unknown
Pompon Beauty 28, Tetraploid O.   1949 de Ruiter
Border Queen 28, Tetraploid O.   1950 de Ruiter
Red Butterfly 28, Tetraploid O.      
Rosette 28, Tetraploid O.      

 

Hybrid Musk Roses Chromosome number Source of material Origin Date Breeder
Trier 14, Diploid T. Aglaia X uknown (Mrs. R.G. Sharman-Crawford) 1904 Lambert
Danaë 14, Diploid T. Trier X H.P (Gl. de Ch Guinoisseau?) 1913 Pemberton
Cornelia 14, Diploid T.   1925 Pemberton
Robin Hood 14, Diploid T. 172/11 X Edith Cavell 1927 Pemberton
Pax 21, Triploid T. Trier X Sunburst 1918 Pemberton
Prosperity 21, Triploid T. Marie-Jeanne X Perles des Jeannes 1919 Pemberton
Vanity 21, Triploid T. 172/11 X Chateau de Clos Vougeot 1920 Pemberton
Nur Mahal 21, Triploid T. 172/11 X Chateau de Clos Vougeot 1923 Pemberton
Francesca 21, Triploid T. Danaë X Sunburst 1922 Pemberton
Penelope 21, Triploid T. Ophelia X seedling 1923 Pemberton
Gwyneth 21, Triploid T. (Trier X Rayon d'Or) X (G. Keller X Entente Cordiale) 1923 Woosnam
Felicia 21, Triploid T. Trier X Ophelia 1928 Pemberton
Buff Beauty 21, Triploid T. Willian Allen Richardson X seedling 1939 Pemberton/Bentall
Eva 28, Tetraploid Chaplins Robin Hood X J.C. Thornton 1933 Kordes
Wilhelm 28, Tetraploid T. Robin Hood X J.C. Thornton 1934 Kordes
Hamburg 28, Tetraploid T. Eva X Daily Mail 1935 Kordes
Sangerhausen 28, Tetraploid T. I. Olsson X Eva 1938 Kordes
Pinocchio 28, Tetraploid O. Eva X Geh. Duisberg 1940 Kordes
Will Scarlet 28, Tetraploid T. sport of Wilhelm 1950 Kordes

 

Floribunda Roses Chromosome number Source of material Origin Date Breeder
Elfe 21, Triploid O. Swantje X Hamburg 1945 Tantau
De Ruiters Herald 21, Triploid Wheatcroft Orange Triumph X ? 1948 de Ruiter
Elmshorn 21, Triploid O. Hamburg X Verdun 1951 Kordes
Baby Triumph 21, Triploid O. Orange Triumph X Margo Koster    
Goldene Joanna Tantau 28, Tetraploid Wheatcroft Geh. Duisberg X (J. Tantau X E. Lamesch) 1945 Tantau
Goldilocks 28, Tetraploid O. Doubloons X (climber X Dazla) 1945 Boerner
Fashion 28, Tetraploid O. Pinocchio X Crimson Glory 1947 Boerner
Vogue 28, Tetraploid O. Pinocchio X Crimson Glory 1947 Boerner
Red Pinocchio 28, Tetraploid O. Yellow Pinocchio X D. Prior 1947 Boerner
Alain 28, Tetraploid Wheatcroft (Guinée X Wilhelm) X Orange Triumph 1948 Meilland
Berlin 28, Tetraploid O. Peace X Eva 1949 Kordes
La Ramée 28, Tetraploid O. Holstein X Alain 1049 Meilland
Masquerade 28, Tetraploid O. Goldilocks X Holiday 1949 Boerner
Our Princess 28, Tetraploid O. Orange Triumph X D. Prior 1949 Robinson
Signal Red 28, Tetraploid O. De Ruieter's Herald X polyantha seedling 1949 de Ruiter
Bonn 28, Tetraploid, plus fragment O. Hamburg X Sondermeldung 1950 Kordes
Independence 28, Tetraploid O. Baby Château X Crimson Glory 1950 Kordes
Florence Mary Morse 28, Tetraploid O. Obergärtner Weibicke X Ellen Poulsen seedling 1950 Kordes
Tapis Rose 27, Tetraploid O. Pinocchio X Mme. J. Gouchault 1950 Meilland
Yellow Pinocchio 28, Tetraploid O. Goldilocks X Marionette 1950 Boerner
Cocorico 28, Tetraploid O. Orange Triumph X Alain 1951 Meilland
Cinnabar Improved 28, Tetraploid O. (Cinnabar X Käthe Duvigneau) X Cinnabar 1951 Tantau
Grandmaster 28, Tetraploid O. Sangerhausen X Sunmist 1951 Kordes
Rudolph Timm 28, Tetraploid O. Obergärtner Wiebicke X Baby Château 1951 Kordes
Tantau's Delight 28, Tetraploid O. Cinnabar X Käthe Duvigneau 1951 Tantau

 

Hybrid Rugosa Roses Chromosome number Source of material Origin Date Breeder
           
           
           
           
           
           

 

Hybrid Rubiginosa Roses Chromosome number Source of material Origin Date Breeder
           
           
           
           
           
           

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