Author(s): Atif sarwar and Shahid Javed Butt
Among the highly fragrant rose species, R. centifolia and R. gruss an teplitz have high commercial importance and value added potential. Most of the modern roses are the result of hybridization, selection and spontaneous mutation. For floriculture trade, there is always demand and necessity for new varieties due to change in taste and fashion. Mutation breeding is an established method for crop improvement. Mutant lines were taken from the Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory of Department of Horticulture, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi. Rose genotypes mutants were sown in the field at similar conditions of irrigation, fertilizers and pest/disease management. Plants were treated with different levels of gamma rays and colchicine through solution. Data of various parameters like plant height shoot length, fresh leaf weight, dry leaf weight, flower diameter, rose water, number of shoots, number of flowers/plant/week, weight/10 flowers and number of petals were collected for different treatments. Gamma radiations show greater improvement in R. centifolia but colchicine impact was more on R. gruss an teplitz
