Genetic Variation And Characteristics Relationship In The Eggplant Genotypes

Abstract

Twenty-two genotypes of eggplant were evaluated to estimate variability, heritability, genetic advance, and correlation coefficients at Horticulture Research Centre (HRC) field, Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Jamalpur, Bangladesh during the winter season of 2013-2014. High genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation were obtained for number of fruits per plant, single fruit weight, weight of fruits per plant, fruit length & breadth and yield per hectare. Heritability and genetic advance were also high for these parameters demonstrating the possibility of selection to improve these characters. Yield of fruits revealed highly significant and positive association with harvest duration, number of fruits per plant, weight of fruits per plant and single fruit weight, which stipulate the importance of these characteristics during selection for high yielding genotypes in eggplant. Among the genotypes, Local-5 (White Round) produced the highest fruit yield per plant (3.89 kg) and per hectare (64.85 t) followed by BARI Begun-2 (Tarapuri) (3.69 kg/plant & 61.50 t/ha) and BARI Begun-4 (3.20 kg/plant & 53.26 t/ha) as against the minimum (0.91 kg /plant and 15.09 t/ha) in Local-11 (Pahuja Seed). Infested shoot varied from 2.67% to 70.00% where maximum infestation (70.00%) was observed in local-3 (Ghuradhap) and minimum infestation (2.67%) was observed in BARI Begun-1, BARI Begun-4 and BARI Begun-9 respectively. Infested fruit varied from 8.06% to 24.16% where maximum infestation (24.16%) was observed in local-9 (White Long)) and minimum infestation (8.06%) was observed in BARI Begun-6. Bacterial wilting disease ranged from 0.00 to 33.33% among the eggplant genotypes.

Keywords: Eggplant, genetic variation, characteristics relationship, genotypes, growth and yield.