Wild relatives of eggplants represent a good source of variation for breeding programmes, in particular for traits related to biotic and abiotic stresses and also fruit quality traits. However, wild species remain largely unexploited for eggplant breeding compared to other crops like tomato. Seven cultivated eggplant accessions (SM001-02, SM001-04, SM001-06, SM001-07, SA002-02, SA002-03 and SMA003-03) were crossed with three wild accessions (ST004-03 (Solanum tovum), San005-01 (Solanum anguivi) and SA002-08 (Solanum aethiopicum)) in an open field using completely randomized design. The success of fruit and seed set as well as seed germination depended on the cross combination and the direction of the cross. In this regard, no fruit set was recorded when the wild accessions were used as female parents. The highest fruit set and mean number of seeds/fruit was obtained from the crosses Sm001-07 × ST004-03 (6%; 264 seeds) and Sm001-07 × San005-01 (5.7%, 114 seeds), respectively. The germination of hybrid seeds was recorded in only three crosses, SM001-07 × ST004-03, SM001-07 × San005-01 and SA002-02 × San005-01 with germination range from 3.3 to 16.6%. However, plantlets from these seeds did not survive after two weeks of germination. The hybridity of the putative interspecific F1 hybrids (through tissue culture) was confirmed with a morphological marker. These hybrids obtained will contribute to broadening the genetic background of cultivated eggplant species used in this study and to the genetic enhancement of this crop.

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Eggplants (Solanum spp.) are important vegetable crops, well known for nutritional and medicinal values of their fruits and leaves. In order to select more nutritious varieties in Ghana, 33 eggplant accessions were investigated for nutritional, mineral and antioxidant content of their fruits. Proximate and antioxidant analysis were determined by AOAC and DPPH methods. The results showed significant differences (P<0.05) among nutritional, mineral and antioxidant traits. Most accessions contained high moisture content (above 70%). Nutrient concentrations ranged from 0.10 fat to 6.10 g 100 g -1 carbohydrate; and 0.107 magnesium to 11.271 mg 100 g -1 iron. Total phenolic content was highest in accession ST004-03 (210 mg GAE g -1 (gallic acid equivalent), and lowest in SA002-02 (171.10 mg GAE g -1 ). Accessions ST004-02 and ST004-03 displayed the highest DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity (0.017 mg ml -1 ); while San 005-01 (1474 mg ml -1 ) showed the highest antioxidant content. Principal component analysis indicated that the first 3 components with Eigen value >1.5 contributed 68.68% of total variability. Dry matter, protein, moisture and carbohydrate contents showed maximum contributions to the total variability. Biplot analysis displayed strong and positive associations among ash, protein and moisture with dry matter; moisture and carbohydrate and; protein and ash. Accessions San 005-01, San 005-02, SA 002-07, SA 002-08 and ST004-03 were identified as good sources of nutrients, minerals and antioxidant properties among the others; and could be used as potential donors for hybridisation programme to develop varieties with higher concentration of these traits.

We investigated the use of in vitro techniques for regeneration of adventitious shoots in Phyllanthus niruri, an anti-malarial plant as an initial effort towards its domestication. Fruits cultured on Murashige and Skoog (1962) basal medium (MS) supplemented with BAP had low germination (61%) due to seed coat imposed dormancy. The culture of nodal cuttings explants on BAP, kinetin or 2-isopentyl adenine (2iP) amended medium to avoid seed dormancy resulted in shoot regeneration without roots in all accessions with BAP producing the highest number of shoots (9.0). Subsequent inclusion of either 1naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in the BAP, kinetin or 2iP amended MS medium also produced only shoots. Leaf lobe explants cultured on only 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) amended medium led to a significant calli development with 1 mg/L 2,4-D producing 100, 88.9 and 95.8% callus, respectively from Kwabenya, Kasoa and Aburi accessions. Subsequent transfer of calli to MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L BAP led to calli growth (increase in weight) and morphogenic response depending on the concentration of 2,4-D in the induction medium. Only 55 and 25% of these calli from Kwabenya and Kasoa, respectively produced shoots while roots development was significantly higher ranging from 48 to 88.9%. These shoots did not survive ex-vitro acclimatisation due to hyperhydricity while those regenerated from nodal cuttings or seeds had high percentage survival. The high morphogenetic response of Phyllanthus niruri in vitro can be used to propagate this anti malarial plant and enhance its utilization in the treatment of malaria.

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is one of the most important fruit vegetables in the world, with several nutritional and medicinal benefits. However, little is known about the genetic divergence of yield and its related traits. The objective of this study was to explore gene action and heritability of traits to help direct and strengthen breeding programmes, geared towards improving yield of the crop. Six generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2) derived from two crosses (SM001-07 x ST004-03 and SM001 x San005-01) of eggplant accessions, were grown in pots in an open field, using Randomised Complete block Design (RCBD). Estimated data indicated that, the additive-dominance model was adequate to demonstrate the genetic variation and its significance in the inheritance of fruit weight, days to flowering and fruit yield traits. Although non-allelic interactions were found in plant height and number of seeds, additive effect was more pronounced in the genetic control of days to flowering and fruit weight; while dominance effect was more important in the control of plant branching and fruit length. Plant height and fruit yield were influenced by complementary gene action. Furthermore, the study revealed low magnitudes of dominance and environmental variances for most traits showing higher heritability values. In view of the diverse gene actions, with additive, dominant and epistasis, playing significant roles in the control of different traits, backcross, recurrent selection or bi parental could be appropriate for advancing the segregating populations to meet the need of yield improvement in both crosses. Key words: Additive, dominance, Epistasis, gene action