Eggplant Fruit Research Articles

Role of etofenprox nanoformulation in suppression of the silver whitefly, Bemisia tabaci and its residue in eggplant fruits

Role of etofenprox nanoformulation in suppression of the silver whitefly, Bemisia tabaci and its residue in eggplant fruits

Bacillus thuringiensis increases the efficacy of bio-pesticides against eggplant shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee

Brinjal shoot and fruit borer (BSFB) is a notorious pest of brinjal. This study evaluates some microbe and plant origin bio-pesticides alone or in combination with Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki 5 % (Btk 5 %) in the brinjal field to combat against BSFB. We found that application of biopesticides in combination with Btk 5 % increased the control of BSFB that results increased marketable yield, gross yield, individual fruit weight compared to their application without Btk 5 %. Among the biopesticide combinations, Abamectin 1.2 % + Emamectin benzoate 1 % and Btk 5 % as well as Emamectin benzoate 1 % and Btk 5 % were potent in context to BSFB control and yield attributes. These combinations confirmed 78.04 % and 74.76 % shoot infestation control, 70.90 % fruit infestation reduction in number basis, 72.40 % and 72.18 % fruit infestation control in weight basis, 13.56 ton ha−1 and 11.41 ton ha−1 marketable yield, 15.59 ton ha−1 and 12.37 ton ha−1 gross yield, respectively. In contrast, Abamectin 1.2 % + Emamectin benzoate 1 % and Emamectin benzoate 1 % confirmed 58.18 % and 67.96 % shoot infestation control, 50.27 % and 62.06 % fruit infestation reduction in number basis, 51.86 % and 59.24 % fruit infestation control in weight basis, 9.05 ton ha−1 and 9.44 ton ha−1 marketable yield, 11.82 ton ha−1 and 10.83 ton ha−1 gross yield. These promising bio-pesticide combined with Bt also ensure more individual fruit weight compared to without Bt. These results thus illustrated that application of Btk 5 % along with bio-pesticide increases their efficacy because of the synthesis of insecticidal toxins named Cry, Vip, and Cyt by Btk 5 % that have synergistic effect with biopesticides and kill insects.

Effects of Alcoholic Extracted and Dry Eggplant (Solanum Melongena) on Hyperlipidemia Treatment in Rats

This study was carried out to investigate the potential of crude ethanolic extracts of eggplant (Solanum melongena) peels, fruit, and seeds, as well as dry eggplant, in the treatment of hyperlipidemia in rats. Forty-nine adult female Sprague Dawley rats were used with a weighting between (280-340) grams. Following the establishment of hyperlipidemia by providing them with a high-fat diet consisting of 4% cholesterol with 5% egg yolk for a period of 30 days in all groups except the control negative. Afterward, the rats were divided into seven groups of 7 rats as followed: The first group control negative was given standard pellets and water only, and the second group control positive induction hyperlipidemia this applied to all groups. Other groups (third, fourth, and five) were administered with alcoholic extracts of Solanum Melongena parts including the peel group, fruit group, and seed group, at a dose of 400 mg/kg/B.W. orally once a day, and group six received dry eggplant without extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg/diet once daily. The seven groups received atorvastatin at a dose of 20 mg/ B.W. orally once daily for a period of 45 days for all groups. The results of the study on serum lipid profile in rats indicated that the peel and atorvastatin groups exhibited a significant decrease in levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). Furthermore, the peel and atorvastatin groups had substantially elevated high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. The study suggests that eggplant peel extract and atorvastatin, a common drug, can potentially treat hyperlipidemia in rats.

Use of alternative fertilization in eggplant production

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is one of the vegetables that has gained prominence in production in recent years due to the demand for foods with nutraceutical properties. However, few studies have been developed evaluating the effects of the use of organic residues in the fertilization of this crop, with the potential to both increase its productivity and reduce environmental impacts. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of organic fertilization with cattle manure and pasture on the productivity of eggplant cv. Cica. The experimental design adopted was in randomized blocks, with 4 treatments and 5 replications. The treatments consisted of 4 types of fertilization: T1, without fertilization (control); T2, bovine manure (20 t ha-1); T3, incorporated mulcher (8 t ha-1); and T4, mineral fertilization. There was a significant effect (p<0.05) of fertilization on plant height, stem diameter, shoot dry mass, root dry mass, number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit diameter, fresh fruit mass and on eggplant productivity. Fertilization with incorporated pasture vegetation did not increase productivity, while fertilization with bovine manure and mineral fertilization showed positive effects on the development and productivity of eggplant fruits. Bovine manure is a good alternative to replace mineral fertilizers in the production of eggplant cv. Ciça.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Properties in Eggplant Germplasm.

The phenolic compounds in eggplant offer potential natural antioxidants for improved health. A large number of samples were examined in order to find eggplant germplasm with a high potential for health promotion. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with variations in total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity in eggplants, including ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). TPC values varied from 14.19 to 842.90 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g of dry weight of eggplant fruit powder. TPC showed a strong positive correlation with both FRAP and ABTS (r = 0.89 *** and 0.77 ***, respectively). The GWAS identified 20 SNPs that were significantly associated out of 29,183 SNPs. Out of the 20 significant SNPs, 11 showed associations with TPC, 4 with ABTS activity, and 5 with FRAP. Among the SNPs associated with TPC, one SNP was found on each of Chromosomes 3, 4, 7, and 12. In contrast, Chromosome 5 comprised two SNPs associated to TPC. Furthermore, the gene encoding IRX12 laccase-4 on Chromosome 10 was found to contain five SNPs associated with TPC. Four significantly linked SNPs on Chromosomes 1 (1 SNP), 4 (2 SNPs), and 10 (1 SNP) were found to be related to ABTS activity. The identified SNPs will be further examined as markers for selecting desirable eggplant varieties and exploring the links between candidate genes, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. The findings of this study could assist in further study and the development of eggplants with improved health advantages through targeted breeding.

The Effect of Combining Repellent Intercrops on the Host-Finding, Ovipositional Preference, and Damage Potential of Eggplant Fruit and Shoot Borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guen´ee

The eggplant fruit and shoot borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guen´ee), also known as EFSB, is anotorious major insect pest of eggplants. Researchers have been striving to find effective management strategies to reduce the population of this pest and achieve higher yields with minimal or no insecticide application. This study aimed to investigate the influence of intercropping eggplants with different repellent plants as a means to mitigate EFSB infestation, considering the heavy reliance on insecticides in eggplant production. The experiment followed a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with six treatments replicated three times.The treatments included lemongrass, oregano, marigold, a combination of repellent plants (lemongrass + oregano + marigold), farmers’ practice (methomyl), and the control (sole eggplant). Data analysis was conducted using analysis of variance, and the differences across treatment means were calculated using Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference. The results revealed that intercropping eggplants with marigold, oregano, and lemongrass exhibited repellent effects on EFSB moths, leading to a significant reduction in the percentage of shoot damage. These findings suggest the potential utilization of intercropping with repellent plants as a more environmentally friendly approach, reducing the need for insecticide usage and potentially increasing farmers’ income.

Comparative efficacy of some botanical insecticides in the control of eggplant fruit and shoot borer (leucinodes orbonalis guenee)

An Experiment was conducted from December, 2021 to April, 2022 in an open field of the Teaching and Research Farm of Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campused to evaluate the efficacy of botanical insecticides in the control of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) fruit and shoot borer (EFSB) Leucinodes orbonalis Guenne), Four week-old eggplant seedlings (ARJANI FI) were transplanted to bags filled with 30kg top soil, each. There were nine insecticide treatments (T0 = Control (No insecticide), T1 = Scent leaf extract (SLE 10% w/v), T2 = Pawpaw leaf extract (PLE 10% w/v), T3 = Neem leaf extract (NLE 5% w/v), T4 = Neem oil (N.O 3% v/v), T5 = Neem oil (N.O 5% v/v), T6 = Garlic bulb extract (GBE 3% v/v), T7 = Emamectin Benzoate (EB 1.33g/L) and T8 = Neemsol (0.2% v/v). Plants were sprayed three times: four weeks after transplanting (4WAT), 6WAT and 8WAT. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance and means compared at 5% probability level using Student-Newman-Keuls Test. The results obtained showed that the insecticide treated plants significantly (P< 0.05) had lower percentage of fruit and shoot infestation by EFSB relative to the untreated plants. The unsprayed plant significantly (P< 0.05) had the highest percentage of Fruit infestation by both number and weight basis. Fruits from the untreated plants had significantly (P< 0.05) more number of bored holes and larvae than the insecticide treated plants. Among the insecticide treatments, EB and N.O 5% had plants with significantly lower shoot infestation (10.42 and 12.50%), fruit infestation by weight (17.07 and 25.60%), number of larvae/fruit (0.33 and 1.00), respectively. The botanicals tested in this work could be incorporated into integrated pest management programme of eggplant fruit and shoot borer. Therefore, Emamectin Benzoate was observed to be the best and hence recommended treatment based on parameters measured.

Transcriptome analysis reveals key genes involved in the eggplant response to high-temperature stress

High-temperature stress (HTS) affects the quality and yield of vegetable crops. Eggplant seedlings, flower organs and fruits are affected by HTS. However, the molecular mechanism underlying heat resistance in eggplant remains unclear. A thermotolerant eggplant line, E390, and a thermosensitive eggplant line, HM, were identified in this study. The differences in the physiological indices, chlorophyll fluorescence, and photosynthetic system parameters of the E390 and HM eggplant lines were analysed under HTS. To better study gene expression under HTS, a transcriptome analysis of eggplant leaves subjected to 42 ℃ high-temperature treatment (HTT) for 0, 1, 6, and 12 h was performed. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment, Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment, and expression trend analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified were performed. The expression patterns of the genes related to transcription factors (TFs), hormones, and heat stress were further analysed. Twenty-three candidate genes responding to HTS were identified. Moreover, their expression patterns were verified by quantitative real-time RTPCR (qRTPCR). Yeast experiment results revealed that HSP70, MYB44, AFP2, HSFA8, EGY3, HSFA3, and TIFY6B might enhance the heat resistance of eggplant. This study provides a reference for further research on the molecular mechanism of eggplant in response to HTS.

Influence of Novel Freezing and Storage Technology on Nutrient Contents, Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Black Eggplant

The present work aims to study some technological aspects related to the preservation of black eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) fruits by freezing process. Also, the influence of such preservation method on the chemical composition, nutritional value, bioactive compounds content and antioxidant capacity of eggplant fruits will also determine. In fresh eggplant fruits, water is by far the most abundant components with 90.21% of the total fruit weight and fiber is particularly abundant (2.98%). Also, fruits has s moderate levels of vitamins (A, B3, B9, C, E and K) and minerals (P, Mg, Ca, Na, Fe, and Zn) but are relatively rich in K. Phenolics was reported the most abundant bioactive compounds, followed by anthocyanins, flavonoids and β-carotene. The high content of bioactive compounds in the eggplant samples was met with a high level of antioxidant capacities, which was determined by several different methods. The freezing method (slow freezing with grilling pretreatment) that was applied in this study led to cause slightly loses of all studied vitamins by the ratio of ranged -0.88 to -10.97%, and significant (p≤ 0.05) losses of bioactive compounds ratio of ranged -2.52 and -10.23% as compared with the fresh samples, respectively. In contrary, freezing has been shown to cause significant (p≤ 0.05) increase of antioxidant capacities by 4.57 and 11.74% for antioxidant activity and trolox equivalent (TE) assays, as compared with the fresh samples, respectively. Also, prolonging the storage period for six months at -180C did not have a significant effect on all previous measurements. In conclusion, the use of this new and effective method in eggplant preservation may contribute to increasing the economic importance of this product by making it available in the markets regularly throughout the year, easing of export, and increasing the income of the producing countries. How to Cite: Yousif A. Elhassaneen, Ghada M. ElBassouny, Omar A. Emam, Sherouk H. Hashem, 2023. "Influence of Novel Freezing and Storage Technology on Nutrient Contents, Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Black Eggplant." Journal of Agriculture and Crops, vol. 9, pp. 338-352.

Integrated Control of White Rot in Eggplant by using Pseudomonas flourescens, Penicillium Commune and Trichoderma asperellum in Iraq

The results of isolation and diagnosis of the fungus growing from Sclerotia and isolated from the infected explants showed that the pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was isolated. The results of the antagonistic ability test of the biological resistance elements against S.sclerotiorum gave a high antagonistic ability compared to the control treatment. The treatment of P.fluorescens gave the highest percentage of inhibition against the pathogenic fungus, followed by the treatment of P.commune and T.asperellum. The results showed the efficiency of biological resistance elements, including P.fluorescens, T.asperellum and P.commune, either singly or in combination with each other, in reducing the percentage of infection severity with S.sclerotiorum under plastic house conditions and in the greenhouse, where it amounted between 5.55-50 compared to the control treatment (pathogenic fungi alone), which amounted to 94.44% and under field conditions in the greenhouse, which amounted to 5.55-66.66% compared to the control treatment, which amounted to 83.33%. It provided good protection for eggplant, which was positively reflected on all plant growth parameters, in addition to an increase in the cumulative weight of eggplant fruits.

Improvement of shelf-life and nutrient quality of tomatoes and eggplant fruits using chitosan-starch composite coat

Improvement of shelf-life and nutrient quality of tomatoes and eggplant fruits using chitosan-starch composite coat

Improvement of shelf-life and nutrient quality of tomatoes and eggplant fruits using chitosan-starch composite coat [pdf

Improvement of shelf-life and nutrient quality of tomatoes and eggplant fruits using chitosan-starch composite coat [pdf

Chemical ecology of Himalayan eggplant variety's antixenosis: identification of geraniol as an oviposition deterrent against the eggplant shoot and fruit borer.

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) suffers severe losses due to a multi-insecticide-resistant lepidopteran pest, shoot and fruit borer (SFB, Leucinodes orbonalis). Heavy and combinatorial application of pesticides for SFB control renders eggplant risky for human consumption. We observed that gravid SFB females do not oviposit on Himalayan eggplant variety RC-RL-22 (RL22). We hypothesized that RL22 contained an antixenosis factor. Females' behavior indicated that the RL22 cue they perceived was olfactory. To identify it, leaf volatile blends of seven eggplant varieties were profiled using solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Seven RL22-specific compounds were detected in the plant headspace. In choice assays, oviposition deterrence efficacies of these candidate compounds were independently tested by their foliar application on SFB-susceptible varieties. Complementation of geraniol, which was exclusively found in RL22, reduced oviposition (> 90%). To validate geraniol's role in RL22's SFB-deterrence, we characterized RL22's geraniol synthase and silenced its gene in planta, using virus-induced gene silencing. Geraniol biosynthesis suppression rendered RL22 SFB-susceptible; foliar geraniol application on the geraniol synthase-silenced plants restored oviposition deterrence. We infer that geraniol is RL22's SFB oviposition deterrent. The use of natural compounds like geraniol, which influence the chemical ecology of oviposition, can reduce the load of hazardous synthetic larvicides.

Genetics and breeding of phenolic content in tomato, eggplant and pepper fruits.

Phenolic acids and flavonoids are large groups of secondary metabolites ubiquitous in the plant kingdom. They are currently in the spotlight due to the numerous health benefits associated with their consumption, as well as for their vital roles in plant biological processes and in plant-environment interaction. Tomato, eggplant and pepper are in the top ten most consumed vegetables in the world, and their fruit accumulation profiles have been extensively characterized, showing substantial differences. A broad array of genetic and genomic tools has helped to identify QTLs and candidate genes associated with the fruit biosynthesis of phenolic acids and flavonoids. The aim of this review was to synthesize the available information making it easily available for researchers and breeders. The phenylpropanoid pathway is tightly regulated by structural genes, which are conserved across species, along with a complex network of regulatory elements like transcription factors, especially of MYB family, and cellular transporters. Moreover, phenolic compounds accumulate in tissue-specific and developmental-dependent ways, as different paths of the metabolic pathway are activated/deactivated along with fruit development. We retrieved 104 annotated putative orthologues encoding for key enzymes of the phenylpropanoid pathway in tomato (37), eggplant (29) and pepper (38) and compiled 267 QTLs (217 for tomato, 16 for eggplant and 34 for pepper) linked to fruit phenolic acids, flavonoids and total phenolics content. Combining molecular tools and genetic variability, through both conventional and genetic engineering strategies, is a feasible approach to improve phenolics content in tomato, eggplant and pepper. Finally, although the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway has been well-studied in the Solanaceae, more research is needed on the identification of the candidate genes behind many QTLs, as well as their interactions with other QTLs and genes.

Effects of saline water and N levels on eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) fruit yield, water productivity, and nitrogen use efficiency by drip and surface flood irrigation

Due to a scarcity of freshwater resources, agriculture is dependent on the use of poor quality water for irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions. Hence, the effective use of poor quality water requires pioneering water management and nitrogen fertilizer practices for increasing yield and resource efficiency. This study aimed to investigate the effect of saline water levels, nitrogen fertilizer, and irrigation methods on eggplant yield, water productivity, NPK uptake, and nitrogen use efficiency. The experiment was conducted in 2019 and 2020 under drip (IM1) and surface flood irrigation (IM2). The treatments included three saline water levels i.e. canal water (SW1), ECiw=2.5 dS/m (SW2), and ECiw=5.0 dS/m (SW3) along with the three nitrogen levels of 75% (N1), 100% (N2), and 125% (N3) of the recommended dose of nitrogen. Application of saline water using IM1 reduced the ECe by 41.8% (SW2) and 34% (SW3) over IM2. The fruit yield, water productivity (WP), NPK uptake, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) was increased by 22%, 127.6%, 39.8%, 16.6%, 11.8%, and 23.8% under IM1 over IM2, respectively. A high saline water level under IM2 can cause more reduction in fruit yield, NPK uptake, and water use. Applying saline water through IM1 improves fruit yield, WP, and NUE by 13-32.8%, 104.1-147.3%, and 10.5-35.2% as compared to IM2. We found that saline water and N applied by drip improved eggplant yield, water productivity, and NPK uptake. It is concluded that irrigation water and nitrogen fertilizer consumption are optimized when saline water is applied through drip irrigation.

First report on CRISPR/Cas9 mediated editing of the eye colour gene, Tryptophan 2, 3-dioxygenase in egg plant shoot and fruit borer Leucinodes orbonalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

First report on CRISPR/Cas9 mediated editing of the eye colour gene, Tryptophan 2, 3-dioxygenase in egg plant shoot and fruit borer Leucinodes orbonalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

The Protective Effect of Eggplant Fruits Against Neurotoxicity Induced by Aluminum Chloride in Experimental Rats

The Protective Effect of Eggplant Fruits Against Neurotoxicity Induced by Aluminum Chloride in Experimental Rats

SmCIP7, a COP1 interactive protein, positively regulates anthocyanin accumulation and fruit size in eggplant

In higher plants, COP1 (Constitutively Photomorphogenic 1) acts as a central regulator of light-signaling networks and globally conditions the target proteins via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. However, the function of COP1-interacting proteins in light-regulated fruit coloration and development remains unknown in Solanaceous plants. Here, a COP1-interacting protein-encoding gene, SmCIP7, expressed specifically in the eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) fruit, was isolated. Gene-specific silencing of SmCIP7 using RNA interference (RNAi) significantly altered fruit coloration, fruit size, flesh browning, and seed yield. SmCIP7-RNAi fruits showed evident repression of the accumulation of anthocyanins and chlorophyll, indicating functional similarities between SmCIP7 and AtCIP7. However, the reduced fruit size and seed yield indicated SmCIP7 had evolved a distinctly new function. With the comprehensive application of HPLC-MS, RNA-seq, qRT-PCR, Y2H, BiFC, LCI, and dual-luciferase reporter system (DLR™), it was found that SmCIP7, a COP1 interactive protein in light signaling promoted anthocyanin accumulation, probably by regulating the transcription of SmTT8. Additionally, the drastic up-regulation of SmYABBY1, a homologous gene of SlFAS, might account for the strongly retarded fruit growth in SmCIP7-RNAi eggplant. Altogether, this study proved that SmCIP7 is an essential regulatory gene to modulate fruit coloration and development, serving as a key gene locus in eggplant molecular breeding.

Monitoring Cadmium Content in the Leaves of Field Pepper and Eggplant in a Karst Area Using Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Data

The ability to quickly and non-destructively monitor the cadmium (Cd) content in agricultural crops is the basic premise of effective prevention and control of Cd contamination in agricultural products. Hyperspectral technology provides a solution for this issue. The potential capability for the spectral prediction of the Cd content in the leaves of pepper and eggplant in the field was explored, and a spectral prediction model of the Cd content in these leaves was established. In this study, based on the indoor spectrum, the sensitive wavebands for predicting the Cd content in leaves were determined preliminarily by correlation analysis. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) and support vector machine regression (SVMR) were used to establish spectral prediction models, and the final sensitive wavebands were determined by the size of the model index. The results show that the SVMR model exhibited higher prediction accuracy than the PLSR model. The RPDp (relative percent different of prediction set) values of the best SVMR prediction models for the pepper leaves and the eggplant leaves were 1.82 and 1.49, respectively. The values of Rp2 (coefficient of determination of prediction set), which can quantitatively estimate the Cd content in leaves, were 0.897 (p < 0.01) and 0.726 (p < 0.01), respectively. This study demonstrated that the leaf spectra of pepper and eggplant in the field can be used to predict the Cd content in leaves, providing a reference for monitoring the Cd content in the fruits of pepper and eggplant in the future.

Growth response and yield of eggplant (solanum melongena l.) to application of liquid organic fertilizer extract of noni fruit (morinda citrifolia l.) in lebak swamp land

This study aims to determine the growth response of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) to liquid organic fertilizer noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia L.) grown in lebak swamps. In this study, a randomized block design (RBD) method was used which consisted of 6 treatments and 4 replications. The concentration of noni fruit extract used was P0 = 0 ml, P1 = 6 ml, P2 = 8 ml, P3 = 10 ml, P4 = 12 ml, P5 = 14 ml. Observations were made on plant height, number of branches, flowering time, fruit number and fruit length. The results of the analysis of variance showed that the response of plants to the influence of noni fruit liquid fertilizer was very good for the age of flowering, number of fruits, fruit length. From the results of the study it can be concluded that the administration of noni fruit liquid organic fertilizer has a very significant effect on the age of flowering and the number of fruits and has a significant effect on the length of eggplant fruit. In the P5 treatment with a concentration of 14 ml gave the best effect, it can be used as an effective dose for growing eggplant plants.