Morphological and Cytomolecular Assessment of Intraspecific Variability in Scarlet Eggplant (Solanum aethiopicumL.)

Abstract

Solanum aethiopicum L. is native to sub-Saharan Africa but is now found in many parts of the world. It is used for food, medicinal, and ornamental purposes. It has also been used as a rootstock for tomato and common eggplant because of its resistance to certain pathogens. However, very little is known about its genetics, so the purpose of this work was to assess intraspecific variability in S. aethiopicum via morphological and cytomolecular characterization of 12 scarlet eggplant accessions. Cluster analysis was used for grouping the accessions using means of 27 variables. Four separate groups were found, with two groups each consisting of five accessions and two other groups each consisting of only one accession. Variability was high with flower-and fruit-associated descriptors among the accessions. Monoploid genome sizes (Cx-value), average chromosome sizes (C/n-value), and GC content were determined. Haploid genome size of S. aethiopicum

Solanum aethiopicum: The Nutrient-Rich Vegetable Crop with Great Economic, Genetic Biodiversity and Pharmaceutical Potential

“…In a study by Hamidou et al [47], 12 scarlet eggplant accessions were assessed via morphological and cytomolecular characterization. This study established the genetic closeness of S. aethiopicum and S. melongena not only in terms of their chromosome number but also in terms of their genome size.…”

Intraspecific crossability and compatibility within Solanum aethiopicum

“…Internal/plant tissue barriers can either be pre-zygotic, occurring before fertilization or post-zygotic, occurring after fertilization (Martins et al, 2015). Pre-zygotic barriers include flower morphological differences such as petal color and length (Sakhanokho et al, 2014); pistil and stamen length (Castro et al, 2009); pollen characteristics such as low pollen production and pollen sterility (Vieira et al, 2015); pollen-pistil interactions such as non-germination of pollen grains on the stigma of the receptor plant (McClure et al, 2011); or incomplete pollen tube growth towards the ovule (Asatryan and Tel-Zur, 2014). The latter two are genetically controlled systems categorized as self-incompatibility (SI) which promotes allogamy and cross-incompatibility (CI) that limits production of superior progeny (Camadro and Peloquin, 1981;De Nettancourt, 2001;Ferrer et al, 2009;Acquaah, 2012).…”

Stability for descriptors of Solanum aethiopicum Shum group (family Solanaceae)

“…Shum is one the four recognized morphological groups of the African eggplant (Abukutsa-Onyango et al, 2010;Adeniji et al, 2012;Horna and Gruere, 2006). It is desired The rest of its groups are Gilo, Kumba and Aculeatum, and they are cultivated for other purposes (Adeniji et al, 2012;Prohens et al, 2013;Sakhanokho et al, 2014;Sękara et al, 2007). All the four groups are diploid (2n = 24) and they are indigenous to Africa (Prohens et al, 2013;Sakhanokho et al, 2014).…”

“…It is desired The rest of its groups are Gilo, Kumba and Aculeatum, and they are cultivated for other purposes (Adeniji et al, 2012;Prohens et al, 2013;Sakhanokho et al, 2014;Sękara et al, 2007). All the four groups are diploid (2n = 24) and they are indigenous to Africa (Prohens et al, 2013;Sakhanokho et al, 2014). The diversity for the Shum group of African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum) is believed to be richest in Uganda, owing to favorable agroecologies and the contribution of the leafy vegetable to household diets and incomes (Cernansky, 2015;Ojiewo et al, 2013;Omulo, 2016;Rubaihayo et al, 2003;Ssekabembe, 2008;Ssekabembe et al, 2003;Stone et al, 2011).…”

“…The observations suggest that either the parameters measured were at different fixation levels (level of homozygosity of same loci) in different accessions or there is a mere difference in form that a variable exhibits in relation to genotype and environment. The possibility of different fixation levels at same loci across accessions can be eliminated on grounds that S. aethiopicum is a predominantly self-pollinating species (Sakhanokho et al, 2014;Sękara et al, 2007); and pure line accessions were used in this study. Therefore, the effect of cross-pollination on genetic variability is ruled out.…”