Document Actions

Evolution of salt resistant rose species in European coastal areas

Survival at saline habitats - A challenge for the genus Rosa

Salz R. rugosa

 

The adaption on saline habitats led to the Salz R. rugosa auf Düneevolution of salt tolerance plants. The coastal Salz R. rugosa auf Düne 2areas of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea are influenced by the selective factor salt stress. Wild roses are no typical halophytes but the native species Rosa spinosissima and Rosa mollis occur on coastal areas with high salinity levels, whereas other north European rose species avoid these areas. The Japanese Rose (Rosa rugosa), a neophytic and invasive rose originating from eastern Asia, displaces native rose species from their habitats. One explanation for the invasive success of Rosa rugosa is its very well developed salt tolerance. Up to now only a few studies exist, which investigate the morphological, anatomical and physiological basics of salt tolerance in ornamental roses, but studies on wild roses are lacking. In this project we want to unravel the mechanisms of salt tolerance in six wild rose species to understand the evolutionary success of rose species in coastal areas.

 

Jens Föller (doctoral thesis), Volker Wissemann

in collaboration with

  • PD Dr. H.-W. Koyro, Institute of Plant Ecology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany

  • Prof. Dr. Karl H. Mühling, Institute of Plant Nutrition, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany