Interspecific hybrids between three eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cultivars and two wild species (Solanum torvum Sw. and Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam.)

Abstract

AbstractThree Greek eggplant cultivars, ‘Langada’, ‘Tsakoniki’ and ‘Emi’ (2n= 24), were crossed with two wild species (Solanum torvum Sw., 2n= 24 and Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam., 2n= 24). Ovules isolated 15‐27 days after pollination were cultured in a modified MS medium at 24°C and a 16h photoperiod. Fifty days later, the ovules were dissected and the interspecific embryos were cultured in the same medium. Interspecific hybrids were achieved only from crosses between the eggplant cultivars and S. torvum. The hybridity of the putative interspecific F1 hybrid (Solanum melongena×S. torvum) was confirmed by using morphological and biochemical (isozyme isocitrate dehydrogenase A, phosphoglucomutase A, phosphoglucose isomerase B, 6‐phosphogluconate dehydrogenase A, 6‐phosphogluconate dehydrogenase B) markers. The F1 plants (‘Langada’×S. torvum) were selfpollinated and backcrossed to both parents. Fruits, however, were produced only when the F1 hybrid was backcrossed as female with the eggplant cultivar ‘Langada’.