An Outlook in Hybrid Eggplant Breeding

Abstract

Summary Eggplant or brinjal is an important crop of many countries. It is highly productive crop and consumed as a cooked vegetable in various ways. It is a hardy annual herbaceous plant. There is a lot of variability exists in the nature in color, shape, size, etc. A number of cultivars are grown across the globe depending on the market needs and consumer preference. Different worker in terms of yield, maturity, uniform harvest, etc., has showed considerable amount of heterosis. Eggplant is attacked by many insect pests and diseases like Shoot and fruit borer, Epilachna beetle, Damping off, Phomopsis blight, Leaf spot, Wilt, Little leaf, Fruit rot, Collar rot, etc. Some varieties tolerant/resistant to different biotic and abiotic stresses are developed. Further work on resistance breeding is of much importance in this regard. Hybrids are also popular in this crop. In some countries, F2 are also being marketed by different companies. The flowers of eggplant are large and showy with the corolla purple in c...