In Vitro Micropropagation of Rosa canina L.: From Establishment to Plant Acclimatization

Rosa canina L. is a medicinal and nutritionally valuable species with increasing industrial demand, yet its conventional propagation is limited by low rooting capacity and high genetic heterogeneity. In this study, a complete and reproducible in vitro micropropagation protocol was established, from explant introduction to plantlet acclimatization. Axillary buds were disinfected and introduced into Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Shoot multiplication was achieved using sequential cytokinin treatments, and shoot elongation was promoted by adding liquid MS medium containing activated charcoal (AC). The highest and fastest root induction percentage (up to 75%) was obtained on WPM with 2 mg·L−1 IBA and under a 16 h light/8 h dark photoperiod. Light promoted adventitious root formation depending on the nutrient formulation. Thereafter, shoots developed well-structured root systems in vitro, and plantlets fully survived to ex vitro acclimatization. This protocol provides an efficient platform for the large-scale propagation of R. canina and demonstrates that its auxin-driven adventitious rooting is strongly conditioned by the interaction between basal medium composition and photoperiod.