Assessment Results and Reflections of Some Eggplant Breeding Projects Performed in Turkey

Abstract

Eggplant is a widely grown species among the Solanaceous crops in both greenhouses and the open field, consumed throughout all the year, it is very popular in Turkey. Eggplant breeding programs were carried out for improving open pollinated varieties launched for the public sector in the earlier 1960’s. Many important open pollinated varieties which still maintains its importance today by the growers were developed. Hybrid eggplant breeding studies were first conducted at the Bati Akdeniz Agricultural Research Institute (BATEM) with the breeding project given support by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock. Breeding studies focused on yield, fruit quality, and the development of long F₁ hybrid varieties suitable for growing protected cultivation, parthenocarpy, and biotic (Fusarium and Verticillium) stress resistance/tolerance. Resistance sources of Fusarium ox. sp. melongenae and its inheritance against had been investigated and a genetic linkage map has been constructed. Several projects, supported by both public and private sectors, have been carried out for twenty years. As an outline of the projects, four F₁ hybrids were developed and about 300 disease resistant inbred lines were transferred to special seed companies supporting the project financially. Additionally, a study was performed on morphologic and molecular characterization, and phylogenetic relationship of local genotypes. Also, considerable scientific publications were produced from these studies and shared by both scientists and breeders.