###### Abstract  
This study delves into the chemical and genetic determinants of petal color and fragrance in _Rosa canina_ L, a wild rose species prized for its pharmacological and cosmetic uses. Comparative analysis of white and dark pink _R. canina_ flowers revealed that the former harbors significantly higher levels of total phenolics (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC), while the latter is distinguished by elevated total anthocyanins (TAC). Essential oils in the petals were predominantly composed of aliphatic hydrocarbons, with phenolic content chiefly constituted by flavonoids and anthocyanins. Notably, gene expression analysis showed an upregulation in most genes associated with petal color and scent biosynthesis in white buds compared to dark pink open flowers. However, anthocyanin synthase (_ANS_) and its regulatory gene _RhMYB1_ exhibited comparable expression levels across both flower hues. LC-MS profiling identified Rutin, kaempfer, quercetin, and their derivatives as key flavonoid constituents, alongside cyanidin and deplphinidin as the primary anthocyanin compounds. The findings suggest a potential feedback inhibition of anthocyanin biosynthesis in white flowers. These insights pave the way for the targeted enhancement of _R. canina_ floral traits through metabolic and genetic engineering strategies. a 20242931452  
of rose oils, which are obtained from the petals and used in perfumery and aromotherapy for their unique scent and therapeutic properties. The emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the accumulation of various pigments, such as flavonoids and anthocyanins, are important functions of petals [14]. VOCs are produced by flowers through three main metabolic pathways: terpenoids, phenylpropanoids/benzenoids, and fatty acid derivatives [4]. These pathways utilize common precursors from the shikimate (SA), methylerythnitol 4-phosphate (MEP), and mevalonate (MVA) pathways [14; 15]. Terpenes, a major class of VOCs, are synthesized either in plastids via the MEP pathway or in cytosol via the MVA pathway [16]. Phenylpropanoids generate aromatic compounds, such as benzyl acetate, eugenol, methyl benzoate, phenylethyl1 acetate, and phenylethanol, using L-phenylalanine from the SA pathway as the main precursor [17]. Fatty acid derivatives, another class of VOCs, comprise low-molecular weight alcohols, aldehydes, and lipids. They are catalyzed by the lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway using linolenic and linoleic acid as initiators [18]. The color of rose flowers is mainly determined by flavonoids, anthocyanins, carotenoids, betalains, and other floral pigments, with flavonoids being the predominant group of secondary metabolites in plants [19]. Phenolic compounds are significant in _R. canina_ due to their complex structure and antioxidant activity [20]. Flavonoids are the principal phenolic compounds in plants and have various biological effects [21]. Therefore, it is essential to identify and analyze different phenolic compounds in _R. canina_ petals by LC-MS analysis. Polyphenols are widely used in health and industry, but their isolation and characterization are difficult. Flavonoids are a group of polyphenic pigments that are synthesized in the cytosol via the SA pathway [22]. They originate from phenylalanine, which competes with chalclone for anthocyanin production [23; 24]. Flavonoids can be divided into several subclasses, such as chalclone, aurone, flavone, flavanone, flavonol, isoflavone, catechchin, anthocyanin, and anthocyanin [25]. Anthocyanins are the main water-soluble pigments that accumulate in the vacuolar part of epidermal cells in reproductive and vegetative tissues [26]. There are six major classes of anthocyanin pigments: delphinidin, cyanidin, pelargonidin, peonidin, petunidin, and malvidin. Among them, the pelargonidin and cyanidin classes are responsible for the pink, orange, and red colors of petals and belong to the main phenolic compounds [25; 27; 28]. Flavones and flavonoids act as co-pigments with anthocyanins, enhancing the intensity of anthocyanins [26].