The potential for crop to wild hybridization in eggplant (Solanum melongena; Solanaceae) in southern India

Abstract

Our findings suggest that hybridization is possible between cultivated and wild brinjal in southern India. Thus, as part of the risk assessment process, we assume that transgenes from the crop could spread to wild brinjal populations that occur nearby.

Coding SNPs analysis highlights genetic relationships and evolution pattern in eggplant complexes

“…The two species are also fully inter-fertile and their hybrid produce many fruits and seeds [29]. It is also not surprising that, since frequent genetic flow occurs between both species in the indo-birmanian region [71,72], in our PCoA analysis the S . insanum accessions appear intermingled with the ones of S .…”

“…Thanks to a reduced complexity genome sequencing approach, we were able to fingerprint all accessions in the study and gathered information which may efficiently guide further exploration of the diversity and relationships in the large Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum group. The approach used and data obtained lay the foundation also to address the evaluation of gene flow among inter-fertile sympatric taxa [71], recent speciation and domestication processes of cultivated eggplants. In addition, the large number of markers distributed across the genome may also contribute to facilitate the transfer of target genomic regions controlling useful agronomic traits, such as biotic and abiotic stress tolerance or fruit quality traits, from related species into the genetic background of cultivated eggplants.…”

Evaluation of crossability studies between selected eggplant accessions with wild relatives S. torvum, S. anguivi and S. aethopicum (Shum group)

“…Eggplant breeders have underexplored the potential of wild species for eggplant breeding compared to other crops like tomato (Hajjar and Hodgkin, 2007;Díez and Nuez, 2008) and hence no commercial varieties containing introgressions from wild related species have been released . Although, there are several reports regarding interspecific hybridization of eggplant and their wild relatives, the hybrids produced are highly sterile, with a few cases of partially fertile or fertile hybrids (Lester and Kang, 1998;Behera and Singh, 2002;Daunay and Hazra, 2012;Rotino et al, 2014;Davidar et al, 2015;Devi et al, 2015;Plazas et al, 2016). Even though the challenges and potential of hybrids produced using interspecific hybridization of cultivated and wild relatives of eggplant is known, information regarding interspecific hybridization of eggplant species using local cultivars and their wild relatives is not readily available in Ghana.…”

“…They grow in the wild under different environmental conditions such as deserts, waterlogged and swampy areas with varying degree of temperatures and thus become resistant to most biotic and abiotic conditions Lester et al, 2011;Davidar et al, 2015). The fact that wild eggplant species can grow under varying environmental conditions compared to their cultivated counterparts may play a pivotal role towards the breeding of eggplant cultivars that can withstand climate change (Dempewolf et al, 2014).…”

Highlights

“…insect pollinators for seed set ( Daunay and Hazra, 2012 ;Davidar et al, 2015 ). The plants have both functionally male and hermaphroditic fl owers, with the latter having stigmas that extend beyond the anthers, a trait that likely promotes outcrossing.…”