Evaluation of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Varieties and Hybrids for Quantitative Traits

The present investigation was conducted to assess the performance of eggplant varieties and hybrids for yield attributing traits. Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is a tender perennial plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), grown for its edible fruits. The study was conducted at the vegetables research block of Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, using seven parents and 30 hybrids of eggplant and the experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications, where data from five randomly selected plants in each entry was considered for eight quantitative traits. The highest variance was recorded in fruit weight, and the lowest was in fruit yield per plant and in the number of primary branches per plant. Among the 30 hybrid cross combinations, hybrid Surya × Rampur Local was recorded as best best-performing hybrid with respect to days to first flowering, number of fruits per plant, and the fruit yield per plant. Thus, the Surya × Rampur Local hybrid could be a potential variety to be used by eggplant growers in Bengaluru. The hybrids could be utilised for a further eggplant improvement program for fruit yields.