The presented research, comprising characterization of nine species of the wild rose (Rosa L.), came from various regions of Northern Iraq. The study proceeded in 2021–2022 at the College of Education of Pure Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq. Employing the random amplification polymorphism DNA (RAPD) helped determine the genetic variation relationships among the species using the statistical program Numerical Taxonomy and Multivariate Analysis System (NTSYSpc 2.02). The use of 10 random primers attained amplifications observed with agarose gel electrophoresis. The RAPD primers generated 523 random bands, making it possible to separate Rosa species from each other. Among the studied species, the genetic distance ranged from 0.067 to 1.027. The least genetic dimension (0.067) came from the species Rosa canina var. deseglisei and Rosa canina var. canina, with the highest genetic breadth reaching 1.027 between Rosa x centifolia and Rosa foetida. The dendrogram revealed three main clusters based on the genetic distance values, with the third one getting split into three distinct groups. RAPD proved as an effective method for studying the relatedness among the species.

Keywords: molecular study, Rosa, Rosaceae, RAPD markers, genetic distance, multivariate analysis, species association

Key findings: Molecular diagnosis using RAPD-PCR indicators helped identify and distinguish the nine species of the genus Rosa (Rosaceae) growing in Northern Iraq. Based on the similarities and genetic differences among the species, the RAPD primers generated 523 random bands for the possible separation of Rosa species from each other. Among the species, the genetic distance ranged from 0.067 to 1.027.