Wild Roses
MUN Botanical Garden is also a partner in the AIF-funded
Atlantic Canada Network on Bioactive Compounds. The Garden is
involved in a project concerning the commercial production of
native rose hips as sources of health protective and disease
prevention constituents. The rose hip team is led by Dr.
James Kemp, University of Prince Edward Island. Other members
of the team include Dr. Carolanne Nelson of UPEI, Kevin Sanderson
of Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada (Charlottetown), Dr. Jim Smith
of PEI Food Technology Centre and Dr. Shawna MacKinnon of
NRC-Institute Marine Biology.
A total of 87 sites have been sampled in Newfoundland, propagation research is underway and clones are being evaluated for variation in nutriceutical properties (a food or part of a food that provides health benefits). There are studies being done on pollination biology and taxonomy at the Garden as well. Dr. Nicholls, Madonna Bishop, Tim Walsh and Costa Kasimos are part of the Rosehip research team at the Garden.
