Brinjal Cultivation Research Articles

English

Heterosis has been amply exploited in developing hybrids in brinjal. In India, only 17.8% area of brinjal cultivation is under hybrid seed due to lack of appropriate hybrids for specific area and purpose. In the present investigation, 14 parents were selected on the basis of divergence and mated in line (L) × tester (T) design hybrids and parents were raised to measure heterosis for different yield attributes. 40 hybrids resulting from a L × T mating design comprised of 10 lines (female) and 4 testers (males) were studied to determine the magnitude of heterosis and genotypic correlation between yield and yield characters. Expression of superiority over the commercial check occurred in 7 crosses, which ranged from -56.36 (L3 × T4) to 34.07% (L7 × T2). The hybrid (L7 × T2) had good heterosis values for growth and yield and is recommended as the most promising combination for developing high yielding hybrid eggplant varieties. Most crosses involving T2 as tester parent had significant positive heterosis over the mid-parent and standard variety. There were strong correlations between fruit yield and numbers of branches per plant, average fruit weight and number of fruit per plant. Path analysis indicated that plant height, number of branches per plant, fruit length, fruit pedicel length, number of fruit per plant, average fruit weight and little leaf incidence had direct and positive effects on yield per plant, but negative and direct effects occurred for days to first flowering, fruit circumference, calyx length, shoot borer infestation, fruit borer infestation, ascorbic acid content and total phenol content. Simple selection would be effective for improvement of fruit yield.   Key words: Solanum melongena, association analysis, hybrid vigour.

Changes in Actinomycetes community structure under the influence of Bt transgenic brinjal crop in a tropical agroecosystem.

BackgroundThe global area under brinjal cultivation is expected to be 1.85 million hectare with total fruit production about 32 million metric tons (MTs). Brinjal cultivars are susceptible to a variety of stresses that significantly limit productivity. The most important biotic stress is caused by the Brinjal fruit and shoot Borer (FSB) forcing farmers to deploy high doses of insecticides; a matter of serious health concern. Therefore, to control the adverse effect of insecticides on the environment including the soil, transgenic technology has emerged as the effective alternative. However, the reports, regarding the nature of interaction of transgenic crops with the native microbial community are inconsistent. The effect of a Bt transgenic brinjal expressing the bio-insecticidal protein (Cry1Ac) on the rhizospheric community of actinomycetes has been assessed and compared with its non-transgenic counterpart.ResultsSignificant variation in the organic carbon observed between the crops (non-Bt and Bt brinjal) may be due to changes in root exudates quality and composition mediated by genetic attributes of Bt transgenic brinjal. Real time quantitative PCR indicated significant differences in the actinomycetes- specific 16S rRNA gene copy numbers between the non-Bt (5.62-27.86) × 1011 g-1 dws and Bt brinjal planted soil (5.62-24.04) × 1011 g-1 dws. Phylogenetic analysis indicated 14 and 11, actinomycetes related groups in soil with non-Bt and Bt brinjal crop, respectively. Micrococaceaea and Nocardiodaceae were the dominant groups in pre-vegetation, branching, flowering, maturation and post-harvest stage. However, Promicromonosporaceae, Streptosporangiaceae, Mycobacteriaceae, Geodermatophilaceae, Frankiaceae, Kineosporaceae, Actisymmetaceae and Streptomycetaceae were exclusively detected in a few stages in non-Bt brinjal rhizosphere soil while Nakamurellaceae, Corynebactericeae, Thermomonosporaceae and Pseudonocardiaceae in Bt brinjal counterpart.ConclusionField trails envisage that cultivation of Bt transgenic brinjal had negative effect on organic carbon which might be attributed to genetic modifications in the plant. Changes in the organic carbon also affect the actinomycetes population size and diversity associated with rhizospheric soils of both the crops. Further long-term study is required by taking account the natural cultivar apart from the Bt brinjal and its near-isogenic non-Bt brinjal with particular reference to the effects induced by the Bt transgenic brinjal across different plant growth stages.

Brinjal (<i>Solanum melongena</i>) Fruit Yield in Response to Urea Super Granule Application

Experiments were conducted to assess the effects of USG on the number of branch and fruit production, fruit length, weight and yield of brinjal (Solanum melongena: cv Shingnath), compared to prilled urea as N source. The study was conducted at farming systems research and development site, Palima, Tangail district under AEZ 8 of Bangladesh during 2000, 2001 and 2002 using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five treatments replicated 6 times. The treatments were T1= N78P36K66S17CD3t (Recommended dose for high yield goal (HYG), N as prilled urea), T2= N78P36K66S17CD3t (Recommended dose for HYG, N as USG), T3= N65P36K66S17CD3t (N 10%< Recommended dose as USG), T4= N52P36K66S17CD3t (N 20%<Recommended dose as USG) and T5 = N60P35K60S0CD5t (Farmers’ dose, N as Prilled urea). USG had significant (P?0.05) effect on the brinjal fruit yield giving higher profits. Thus USG as N78P36K66S17CD3t was beneficial for brinjal cultivation in terms of yield and economics.

Returns to investment on research and development of soil borne disease management strategy for brinjal in Bangladesh

The study estimated the economic returns to the past investment on the development of two 1PM practices for controlling soil borne diseases in brinjal cultivation in Bangladesh. Economic surplus model with ex-post analysis was used to estimate returns to investment. The study showed that about 20.10% more brinjal production was made available due to adoption of IPM practices (i.e. use of poultry refuse and mustard oilcake) during 2002-2003. The yields of brinjal under IPM practices were 33% and 34% higher, respectively, over the non-IPM practices. Internal rate of return (IRR), net present value (NPV) and benefit cost ratio (BCR) of the past investments were estimated at 26%, Tk. 436.21 million and 3.0, respectively. Under various assumptions on cost and return, the IRR ranged from 20 to 32% and BCR ranged from 2 to 5. The investment in research and development of 1PM practices for managing soil born diseases in brinjal cultivation was found to be very efficient. Key Words: Brinjal, soil borne disease, producer surplus, consumer surplus, ex-post analysis, returns to investment, internal rate of return, net present value doi:10.3329/bjar.v33i3.1605 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 33(3) : 459-468, September 2008

Socio-economic study of insecticide use on vegetable cultivation at farm level in Chittagong region

The study was conducted in Satkania, Patiya and Hathazari upazilas of Chittagong district during 2008 to identify different pest problems and practices, input use and economic returns at farmers' levels. About 95% of the farmers relied on the application of insecticides to control insect pests and they said that the insecticides use was profitable. Majority of the farmers of Patiya sprayed insecticides more than 40 times in brinjal cultivation. For other selected vegetables, farmer's sprayed insecticide more than 15 times in a season. Especially for Satkania, majority of the farmers sprayed every alternative day while in the winter, the spraying frequency was reduced once a week. Pesticide dealers were the major source of information to farmers on the selection of chemicals and application methods. Very few farmers used protective measures or safety measures during pesticide application, only 39% of the respondents did not use any safety measures where 21% of the vegetable growers covered their body and faces. Eight percent covered their face and 32% covered their body at the time of spraying. On an average 61% believed that pesticide application are harmful to farm labour, 40% farmers expressed their views that pesticide application pollute water and air. Keywords: Insecticide use; Vegetable cultivation; Socio-economic characteristics DOI: 10.3329/jbau.v7i2.4745 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 7(2): 343-350, 2009

The Biology and Control of Brinjal (Eggplant) Fruit and Shoot Borer, Leucinodes orbonalis1

During recent years the brinjal fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee, has become a limiting factor in brinjal cultivation in many parts of India. The borer maintains its breeding activities on the brinjal plants during crop season (September to March) and on weeds ( Solanum nigrum and S. xanthocarpum ) during off season (April to August). The life cycle of the borers varied from 26 days to 39 days with 10 generations in a year. The average number of eggs laid by an individual varied between 92.5 to 233 eggs. Of the brinjal varieties tested against the borer the variety Aushey was found highly resistant. Triweekly spraying with endrin (0.02%) provided a fair control of the pest.