Assessment of Diversity among Important Brinjal (Solanum melongena) Cultivars Using Morphological Markers

Abstract

Background. Solanum melongena is a medicinally important vegetable crop that belongs to the family Solanaceae, which is cultivated worldwide. Methodology. In the present study, 22 eggplant varieties from the different ecogeographical regions were evaluated for nine quantitative and twenty-two qualitative morphological characters. A significant divergence was observed in all characters and wide regional variations for plant characteristics, flower, and fruit characteristics. Principle component analysis (PCA) was performed using PAST3 software to determine the relationship among eggplant accessions. Results. The principal component analysis showed that the first two principal component axes explained 97.17% of the total multivariate variation. Cluster analysis using the Unweighted Pair Group Method of Arithmetic Means (UPGMA) grouped the 22 eggplant accessions into two main clusters based on similarities in morphological characteristics. The study showed that the Solanum melongena accessions belonging to Pakistan and other geographical regions of the world possess marked variation in fruit weight, fruit shape, fruit color, leaf spine, number of locules in fruit, plant height, and flower color. Conclusion. Based on morphological diversity, the best cultivars of eggplant that show better yield can be selected for farmers.

Current Knowledge, Research Progress, and Future Prospects of Phyto-Synthesized Nanoparticles Interactions with Food Crops under Induced Drought Stress

“…During environmental challenges like drought, plants often encounter reduced photosynthetic rates and chlorophyll degradation, leading to diminished growth and productivity. However, research indicates that applying phytosynthesized NPs can ameliorate these detrimental effects and enhance photosynthetic efficiency [1,2,185,[332][333][334].…”

“…These nanoparticles, made from plant extracts, have the extraordinary potential to encourage plant growth, increase stress tolerance, and improve nutrient intake. We must examine numerous critical research paths and suggestions before profiting from these phyto-synthesized NPs in agriculture [185,332,386].…”

“…It is crucial to comprehend how phyto-synthesized NPs affect the condition of the soil. As the foundation of agricultural systems, soils support plant development and the cycling of nutrients [6,322,332]. Although preliminary findings may point to beneficial effects on soil properties, such as increased nutrient availability or improved water retention, prolonged exposure may change the soil's microbial community and nutrient dynamics, impacting crop productivity and soil fertility [25].…”

“…One strategy specifies safe dosages and application rates for phyto-synthesized NPs. Maximum levels of NPs that can be used in agriculture must be set so that crops, the earth, and the environment do not take damage in ways that were not expected [320,328,332].…”

Evaluation of Different Varieties of Brinjal (Solanum Melongena L.) for Growth and Yield Parameters

“…Divya et al, (2020) conducted experiment on brinjal at under mid hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh and reported the plant height was 130.47 cm recorded in UHF -BRL -4 variety. Younas et al, (2022) concluded and reported that the plant height was 62.1 cm recorded in 004729 ( 01…”