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Joublan, J.P., M. Berti, H. Serri, R. Wilckens, F. Hevia, and I. Figueroa. 1996. Wild rose germplasm evaluation in Chile. p. 584-588. In: J. Janick (ed.), Progress in new crops. ASHS Press, Arlington, VA.

Wild Rose Germplasm Evaluation in Chile*

Jean Paul Joublan, Marisol Berti, Humberto Serri, Rosemarie Wilckens, Felicitas Hevia, and Inés Figueroa

  1. METHODOLOGY
  2. RESULTS
  3. REFERENCES
  4. Table 1
  5. Fig. 1
A number of Rosa species (Rosaceae) native to southern Europe and North Africa were introduced to Chile by Spanish colonizers. These species are now widely distributed in Chile from Santiago (33°S) to Aisen (45°S) and from sea level to 2000 m (Navas 1976; Hoffmann et al. 1992). Chile annually exports between 3600 to 4500 t of dehydrated rosehips to Europe.

Rose hips are the enlarged floral cups (receptacles) which surround numerous small, hard dry fruits (achenes) commonly called seeds. Rose hips are bright orange and oval and become fleshy but are not true fruits (Fig. 1). They are collected from the wild by peasants and their families. Rose hips are brought to the processing plant where they are dehydrated and seeds are removed; dry pulp is exported, mainly, to European countries. The dry pulp is used in herbal teas and marmelades and has been used as a pigment for laying hens and broiler chickens (Burgos 1976; Cortés 1976; Larraín 1978). It contains large amounts of vitamin C (1000-2000 mg/100g), riboflavin, pectins, nicotinic acid, and malic acid (Israel and Benado 1977). The vitamin C content varies with the site of collection, harvest date, and dehydration methods (Galeb 1976; Ziegler et al. 1986).

The achenes are a by-product of pulp extraction and have been used to feed pigs, hens, chickens, and chinchilla rabbits (Villagrán 1976; Moraga 1978; Peña 1978; Fuente et al. 1979; Seitz 1979; Barbet 1987; Voullieme and Hiriart 1978, 1980a, b). Achenes contain 8% oil composed by oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and transretinoic acids (Soto 1978). This oil is used in the cosmetic industry and is reported to accelerate the regeneration of damaged tissue, and promote wound healing (Valladares et al. 1985, 1986).

Information about the Rosa species that exist in Chile is scarce. "Rosa mosqueta" is the common name used for at least three species [Rosa moschata, R. rubiginosa (= eglanteria) and R. canina] which are collected from the wild. Morphological differences are evident in the wild material indicating that more than one species and probably several subspecies and ecotypes have developed since introduction. The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in characteristics, size, pulp thickness, and vitamin C of rose hips from wild material existing between latitudes 36° and 38°S where most processing plants exist.

METHODOLOGY

Rose hips and shoots were collected at 30 locations between Cauquenes (36°S) and Perquenco (38°S), Chile, and brought to the University of Concepción, Chillán. Locations sampled were at altitudes from 0 to about 2000 m. Forty hips were collected from each plant sampled and 20 hips were used to measured diameter, length, pulp thickness and the other 20 were used to determine weight, and industrial pulp yield. Vitamin C content was obtained from a sample of 20 hips, homogeneous in color. Samples were frozen and ascorbic acid content was measured according to the AOAC method (1969).

RESULTS

Preliminary results determined that rose hips were very variable among and within locations. All fruits collected from locations in the northern part of the sampled areas had thorns on fruit pedicels and some sparcely distributed thorns in the fruits. Clearly most plants South of Angol (42°S) did not have thorns in the fruit pedicel. Thorns in fruit pedicels have been used to classified species. According to Navas (1976), R. canina pedicels are glabrous and R. rubiginosa has thorns on the pedicels, and R. moschata has pubescent pedicels. Flowers are needed for a definitive classification.

Average hip length and diameter vary between 13 to 24 mm and 9 to 14 mm, respectively. Pulp thickness vary between 2.3 to 1.1 mm and mean fruit weight vary between 2.5 to 2.7 g (Table 1). Industrial pulp yield (kg of fresh fruit needed to produce 1 kg of dry pulp) vary between 2.7 to 5.3 kg. Neighboring plants differ significantly in their fruit length, diameter, pulp thickness, weight, and industrial pulp yield. Ascorbic acid content varied among locations, but this was related directly with the moisture content of the fruits (Table 1). Variability in data collected is influenced by the environment and the genetic background. Further evaluations will be performed to select plants with the desired characteristics for commercial planting, management, and industrial processing. Selection is an important goal for processing companies because they would receive a more uniform product that could have a better industrial yield.

REFERENCES

*Contribution from the Plant Production Department, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile. This project has been financed by Soc. Agrícola y Forestal Casino Ltda. and FONTEC-CORFO project No. 95-0491.
Table 1. Variability in rose hips collected at 60 different locations in Chile.

Location Ascorbic acid (mg/100 g) Length (mm) Diameter (mm) Fruit weight (mg) Pulp thickness (mm)
Angol 1181 22 13 2170 1.8
Antuco 5289 20 14 1730 1.5
Antuco 2085 20 13 1378 1.5
Cabrero 1474 21 14 1642 1.6
Cabrero 2082 21 13 1342 1.5
Cauquenes 2534 16 11 1160 1.1
Cauquenes 4469 17 11 1065 1.4
Cerro Negro 1910 18 13 1553 1.7
Cerro Negro 3493 22 13 1613 1.7
Co Colorado 3916 19 14 1423 1.4
Colliguay 2129 20 13 1630 1.7
Collipulli 4254 21 13 1163 1.5
Collipulli 2752 19 14 1520 1.6
Florida 3447 20 13 1540 1.6
Florida 2157 21 13 1660 1.6
Hualqui 1825 20 13 1440 1.5
Huepil 3675 20 12 1448 1.5
Laja 2318 20 13 1395 1.4
Larqui 4151 18 13 1588 1.5
Las Rosas 3492 19 11 1388 1.8
Las Rosas 2064 24 13 1817 2.1
Las Rosas 3976 21 13 1875 1.9
Las Rosas 1300 20 15 2555 2.4
Lolenco 2397 20 14 1993 1.6
Lumaco 2503 17 10 793 1.4
Lumaco 4437 16 11 928 1.4
Lumaco 3013 20 12 1753 1.7
Lumaco 2666 21 11 1545 1.9
Millantu 3226 19 12 1268 1.5
Mininco 2566 19 12 1472 1.5
Mulchen 3624 20 12 1355 1.9
Nacimiento 4656 19 13 1470 1.5
Nereo 6694 18 14 1585 1.7
Nereo 3435 19 13 1510 1.6
Ninhue 2175 20 13 1630 1.5
Ninhue 2542 13 9 555 1.2
Paso Hondo 3110 21 13 1453 1.5
Paso Hondo 4156 21 13 1538 1.6
Pemuco 3835 18 12 1248 1.5
Perquenco 4097 23 14 1538 1.6
Portezuelo 1095 21 14 1698 1.6
Portezuelo 1389 19 13 1598 1.7
Puente Perales 3075 19 12 1253 1.4
Quilaco 2923 20 12 1438 1.5
Quilleco 2281 18 11 815 1.3
Quirihue 4221 21 14 1598 1.5
Quirihue 3091 19 14 1715 1.5
Rere 2677 22 13 1523 1.6
Rere 2699 22 14 1615 1.6
San Nicolas 2382 17 11 1065 1.5
San Nicolas 1968 19 13 1445 1.6
San Rosendo 2901 21 13 1623 1.5
Sn. Carlos Pur 3480 23 14 1660 1.8
Sta. Barbara 3391 22 11 1063 1.4
Tomeco 2680 18 13 1365 1.5
Traiguen 2681 21 13 1598 1.6
Trintre 2250 16 10 835 1.4
Yumbel 4438 20 14 1523 1.6
Yumbel 2537 21 13 1440 1.6
Yungay -- 19 14 -- 1.5
Yungay 4072 20 13 1498 1.6
LSD (0.05) 1 1 33 0.1

Fig. 1. Rosehips fruits at harvest time in Chile.
Last update August 24, 1997 aw