There is an abstract of the article “Shortening hybridizing breeding cycle of rose” at the link below. The authors present evidence that rose achenes (seeds) are dormant due to the presence of the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) in the pericarp (seed coat) and testa. At the end of the article, they recommend a procedure for breaking achene dormancy. They say, “the achene should be treated by means of chemical degradation to remove the physical barrier imposed by pericarp, followed by leaching in water to reduce the ABA levels in the pericarp and testa”. They found hydrochloric acid to be the most effective chemical for scarifying the pericarp. There is no direct evidence in the article that the procedure works.
A few of my horticulture books recommend that procedure for difficult to germinate seeds (not roses in specific but perhaps roses, too). Apparently it can work. Note the emphasis of the word can.
It is important to note that what they say is: “…softening of pericarp by hydrochloric acid failed to cause achenes to germinate, implying that the physical restriction imposed by pericarp is not the exclusive cause of dormancy.”
It sounds like their experiment is incomplete. Did they observe a stratification period?
Paul