Characterization of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) germplasm

Abstract

Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is the most popular and widely cultivated native vegetable crop of Indian, but no clear records of domestication are available (Chaudhary, 1976). The crop is extremely variable in India substantiated by the presence of wild relatives of Solanum melongena which are perennial herb or shrub with bitter fruits (Bhaduri, 1951). Though the principal method used for improvement of this crop in India is selection from indigenous germplasm, yet comprehensive characterization of this crop has not been done. An evaluation of germplasm gives considerable data to classify the material. Germplasm collection, maintenance and its evaluation for economically important traits is a pre-requisite for starting any breeding programme for the genetic improvement of the crop. An attempt has been made in the present study to evaluate the germplasm from different eco-geographic sources for some important characters in brinjal for 65 genotypes maintained in All India Coordinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri (M.S. India) under Western Maharashtra conditions.