Roses, a symbol of love and beauty, have a rich history of cultivation that spans millennia. While their aesthetic appeal has remained a constant, the genetic changes underlying their domestication and breeding remain intriguing. The manuscript titled "Dark side of the honeymoon: reconstructing the Asian x European rose breeding history through the lens of genomics" by Leroy et al. provides an unprecedented insight into the genomic shifts that accompanied the breeding history of roses in Europe during the 19th century. By leveraging on genotyping and whole-genome sequencing data from more than 200 accessions, this study reconstructs the genetic journey of roses from their European origins to their integration with Asian varieties.

This work is particularly fascinating for evolutionary biologists, geneticists, and horticulturists alike, as it sheds light on several critical aspects of plant breeding history. The study provides compelling evidence of a rapid transition from predominantly European to a near-Asian genetic background within a few generations. This shift highlights the strong influence of Asian roses in shaping modern cultivated varieties, particularly through the introduction of recurrent blooming traits, novel colors, and scents.

A striking finding is the reduction in genetic diversity that occurred during this transition, likely due to selective breeding practices that prioritized a narrow set of desirable traits. This discovery underscores the potential risks of genetic bottlenecks in cultivated plants and raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of modern rose breeding programs.

The study also features a robust methodological framework applied to a unique data set which includes 204 rose accessions, covering both botanically and historically significant varieties. Whole genome sequencing of 32 accessions provides high-resolution insights into genomic evolution. Comprehensive phenotypic characterization over multiple years further allows in-depth investigation of the genetic architecture of key horticultural traits such as petal number, flowering time, disease resistance, and scent composition, with the building of the largest GWAS catalog for roses to date.

Finally, the findings emphasize the need for sustainable breeding practices that balance genetic innovation with the preservation of historical diversity, by maintaining rose collections. Integrating ancient genetic resources into modern breeding programs could enhance resilience against diseases and environmental changes, while maintaining the aesthetic qualities that make roses so beloved.

Overall, the manuscript by Leroy et al. is a landmark contribution to our understanding of the genomic history of rose breeding. By merging historical records with cutting-edge genomic analysis, the study not only reconstructs a critical phase of horticultural evolution but also provides invaluable insights for future breeding strategies.

References

Thibault Leroy, Elise Albert, Tatiana Thouroude, Sylvie Baudino, Jean-Claude Caissard, Annie Chastellier, Jerome Chameau, Julien Jeauffre, Therese Loubert, Saretta Nindya Paramita, Alix Pernet, Vanessa Soufflet-Freslon, Cristiana Oghina-Pavie, Fabrice Foucher, Laurence Hibrand-Saint Oyant, Jeremy Clotault (2024) Dark side of the honeymoon: reconstructing the Asian x European rose breeding history through the lens of genomics. bioRxiv, ver.4 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Evol Biol https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.06.22.546162