Abstract: Vitamin C, E. carotenes and major economic characters in hips of 38 species of Rosa from China were studied. There were considerable variations in vitamin C contents in the genus. The maximum amount was found in the hips of R. tsinglingensis (2576 mg/100 g), and the minimum in these of R. deqenensis (49 mg/100 g). Carotene contents varied from 0.06 to 19.24 mg/100 g. being lowest in R. xanthina, and highest in R. henryi. Difference was slight in vitamin E contents ranged from 1.34 mg/100 g (R. xanthina) to 3.86 mg/100 g (R. bracteata). Statistical analysis of 54 species of subgenus Rosa from wild populations in China has evidenced a close relationship between the division of sections and the vitamin C contents in mature hips, such as that vitamin C contents in species of Sect. Cinnamoneae and Microphylla were quite high with an average of more than 1800 mg/100 g.

Key words: Rosa, Vitamin, Germplasm resource