Angela Roles
We have identified a field site containing individuals of both the invasive multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) and the native swamp rose (R. palustris) in northeastern Ohio. The hips (fruits) of these species differ considerably in size and number of seeds per fruit. Swamp rose fruits are large (mean length = 14.65 mm ± 0.98) but contain only a few, relatively small seeds while multiflora rose fruits are small (8.3mm ± 0.99) but contain more, relatively larger seeds. Within this site, we observed plants that produced fruits of intermediate phenotypes (9.9 mm ± 0.98). We sampled DNA from leaves of both species and the possible hybrid individuals. We have demonstrated successful amplification of three microsatellite markers (developed for R. hybrida) in both multiflora rose and swamp rose. Putative hybrid individuals are expected to display mixed genotypes for these three molecular markers. During summer 2008, we will observe flowering times and pollinator activity, as well as use allozyme loci for comparison with the microsatellite data.
Keywords: ROSA MULTIFLORA, ROSA PALUSTRIS, MICROSATELLITES, ALLOZYMES, HYBRIDIZATION
