Evaluation of diversity in quantitative and qualitative characteristics of different white eggplant genotypes under climatic conditions of Karaj, Iran

The eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is one of the most consumed and healthiest vegetables in the world. This plant is important both nutritionally and medicinally. This research, based on a randomized complete block design, investigated the quantitative and qualitative traits of nine inbred lines (11111, 11121, 11122, 13411, 13421, 13511, 13521, 24111, and 51311) and one commercial cultivar of white eggplant (Aretussa) in two growing seasons (2021–2022, and 2022–2023) in the climatic conditions of Karaj, Iran. The analysis of variance showed that the interaction of year and genotypes was significant for all studied traits, as plant height, leaf length and width, fruit yield, and content of minerals (P, Ca, K, Fe, Zn, Mg), protein, vitamin C, dry matter, crude fat, crude fiber, and total carbohydrates in the fruit. The comparison of means revealed that genotype 13511 had the tallest plants. Aretussa was the best genotype in terms of yield, vitamin C, crude fiber, and protein, and genotypes 51311 and 11121 were the best in P and K. The variation range of the genotype was not wide in qualitative traits, but as a summary of the two years, the three genotypes of 13421, 51311, and Aretussa can be recommended as the best genotypes in terms of fruit yield per ha, while there were close to one another in fruit quality.