S05 - Session P4 - New classification system for flower shapes of rose cultivars appropriate for field-work

Authors: Gábor Boronkay *, Dóra Farkas, Szilvia Kisvarga, András Neményi, László Orlóci

In the case of cultivated rose ( Rosa × hybrida hort.), the current classification standards based on flower shapes are not suitable for efficient cultivar identification at field works, because they are too analytical (UPOV) or oversimplified (WFRS). Seeing the shortcoming, a new, practice-oriented classification system has been developed for flower shapes, using 1100 rose cultivars of the Budateteny Rose Garden (Budapest, Hungary). The new system separates flower shapes from petal shapes and takes into account that the flower of rose varieties can take on numerous transient shapes. A suitable classification system must be met the following conditions also: The classes of the system should be recognisable and distinguishable under field-working conditions, however the number of the classes should be enough for the acceptable variety definition. By recording more than 8,000 flowers, our system distinguishes 35 flower shapes, which can be classified into 6 main groups, and in addition the system defines 16 petal shapes independent of the flower forms. The flower shapes are the follows: Specials (2 single and 1 convex classes), Bowl shapes (6 classes), Cup shapes (6 classes), Biconcave shapes (8 classes), Drop shapes (6 classes), Closed shapes (6 classes). The petals: Normal; Irregular; Star forming; Emarginated; Rosette forming, Collar; Button-eye forming; Upturned; Rolled; Wavy; Lacy; Large; Folded; Antennae shaped; Scaled; Vegetative centre.