Genotypic response to heat stress tolerance in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted out at Vegetable Experimental
Area, Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural
University, Ludhiana. Sixty three brinjal genotypes were
evaluated for heat stress tolerance during summer and rainy
season. Ten characters were analyzed and had shown
significant differences for all traits during both the seasons.
Among all genotypes, high yield was observed in BL205,
BL215, BR123, BL201 and BL214 during summer and G414,
BL222, BR104, BR102 and S331 during rainy season. The
lowest yield was observed in BL223, BL219 and BR119
during summer season. Genotypes showed 50% flowering
in less than 25 days after transplanting were SR318, SR305
and GL403. Reduction in pollen fertility causes flower drop,
fruit drop and lower the fruit yield at high temperature. Among
all, BL205, BL215 and BR123 showed minimum seasonal
differences for yield due to high pollen viability and fruit
setting. Thus, these genotypes can further be exploited
during summer season per se or by involving in breeding
programme.