Mitigation of seed dormancy and microsatellite analysis of hybrid population of Garden roses (Rosa hybrida)

•Rosa hybrida seed dormancy significantly hinders the germination percentage.•Genotypic variations, agroclimatic and edaphic factors influenced the seed setting and germination percentage.•Cold stratification with GA3 proved efficient in minimizing the seed dormancy and more germination percentage was obtained.•In conventional breeding selected parents, microsatellite markers proved convenient for selection of variant hybrid seedlings.•Microsatellite markers can easily select genetically different desirable hybrids at early growth stage.