The Flowering Habit and Natural Crossing in the Egg-Plant

Highlights

“…Estimates of outcrossing rates for cultivated brinjal based on some very early studies ranged from 2 to 46.8% (mean = 6.8%) in Japan ( Kakizaki, 1924 ) and from 1.9 to 10.9% (mean = 6.9%) in India ( Kakizaki, 1924 ;Sambandam, 1962 ). Given that we sampled only three cultivated populations in this study, we are not able to draw general conclusions about outcrossing rates in the crop.…”

Genetic diversity and population structure of wild/weedy eggplant (Solanum insanum, Solanaceae) in southern India: Implications for conservation

“…We were surprised that outcrossing rates of the cultivars were as high as 52.5% in population 3c (a home garden), and 23–25% in populations 1c and 2c (both small farms), respectively, given that many eggplant cultivars worldwide are capable of autogamous self‐pollination (Daunay and Hazra, 2012; Singh and Kumar, 2006). Estimates of outcrossing rates for cultivated brinjal based on some very early studies ranged from 2 to 46.8% (mean = 6.8%) in Japan (Kakizaki, 1924) and from 1.9 to 10.9% (mean = 6.9%) in India (Kakizaki, 1924; Sambandam, 1962). Given that we sampled only three cultivated populations in this study, we are not able to draw general conclusions about outcrossing rates in the crop.…”

Buzzing Wild Bee Visits Enhance Seed Set in Eggplant, Solanum melongena

“…According to Buchmann [12], bees are essential to pollinate eggplant flowers efficiently. Kakizaki [20] reported that Solanum plants grown in cages without bees produced no fruits. Similar observations were made by Jones and Rosa [37] and Pal and Taller [21].…”

“…It is a delicate, perennial, annual tropical plant native to Africa and Asia [19]. Fruits are formed due to both cross pollination [12] and selfpollination [17,20]. However, according to Buchmann and Cane [17], S. melongena is more commonly and efficiently pollinated by buzz pollinators.…”