Abstract
Eggplant is the fifth most economically important solanaceous crop after potato, tomato, pepper, and tobacco. Apart from the well-known brinjal eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), two other under-utilized eggplant species, the scarlet eggplant (S. aethiopicum L.) and the gboma eggplant (S. macrocarpon L.) are also cultivated. The taxonomy and identification of eggplant wild relatives is challenging for breeders due to the large number of related species, but recent phenotypic and genetic data and classification in primary, secondary, and tertiary genepools, as well as information on the domestication process and wild progenitors, facilitates their utilization in breeding. The World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) holds a large public germplasm collection of eggplant, which includes the three cultivated species and more than 30 eggplant wild relatives, with more than 3,200 accessions collected from 90 countries. Over the last 15 years, more than 10,000 seed samples from the Center's eggplant collection have been shared with public and private sector entities, including other genebanks. An analysis of the global occurrences and genebank holdings of cultivated eggplants and their wild relatives reveals that the WorldVeg genebank holds the world's largest public collection of the three cultivated eggplant species. The composition, seed dissemination and utilization of germplasm from the Center's collection are highlighted. In recent years more than 1,300 accessions of eggplant have been characterized for yield and fruit quality parameters. Further screening for biotic and abiotic stresses in eggplant wild relatives is a priority, as is the need to amass more comprehensive knowledge regarding wild relatives' potential for use in breeding. However, as is the case for many other crops, wild relatives are highly under-represented in the global conservation system of eggplant genetic resources.
Highlights
Brinjal eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is a warm-weather crop mostly cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world
The bioactive properties of eggplant are mostly associated with high content in phenolic compounds (Plazas et al, 2013), which are mostly phenolic acids, chlorogenic acid in the fruit flesh (Stommel et al, 2015) and anthocyanins in the fruit skin (Mennella et al, 2012)
The importance of safeguarding and evaluating wild relatives is highlighted, as crop wild relatives are highly under-represented in the global conservation system of plant genetic resources and may harbor important genes for resistance or tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses
Summary
Brinjal eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is a warm-weather crop mostly cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Eggplant has a very low caloric value and is considered among the healthiest vegetables for its high content of vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds for human health (Raigón et al, 2008; Plazas et al, 2014b; Docimo et al, 2016). In this respect, eggplant is ranked among the top 10 vegetables in terms of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (Cao et al, 1996). Eggplant breeding programs aim to develop high-yielding varieties, mostly F1 hybrids, with high fruit quality, shelf-life and resistance to major disease and insect pests, and with broad adaptation to environmental stress (Daunay and Hazra, 2012). The importance of safeguarding and evaluating wild relatives is highlighted, as crop wild relatives are highly under-represented in the global conservation system of plant genetic resources and may harbor important genes for resistance or tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
