International Master Programme at the Swedish Biodiversity Centre Master’s thesis No. 57 Uppsala 2009 Morphological diversity in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), their related species and wild types conserved at the National gene bank in Mauritius. Houshna Banu Naujeer Supervisor Mattias Iwarsson CBM MASTER THESES SERIES Houshna Naujeer /Morphological diversity in eggplant genetic resources in Mauritius CBM Master’s Thesis No. 57 - 1 - Houshna Naujeer /Morphological diversity in eggplant genetic resources in Mauritius Abstract Mauritius has rich eggplant genetic resources with important implication for research and conservation. Heterogeneity in pedoclimatic condition and farmers selection have resulted in significant accumulation of wide morphological diversity at both inter and intra specific levels in eggplant landraces. Morphological characterization of 27 S. melongena, two S. macrocarpon, one S. nigrum, three S. violaceum and one S. torvum accessions was conducted. The aim of the present study was to assess and measure morphological diversity in eggplant genetic resources conserved at the National gene bank in Mauritius in order to promote their conservation, effective management, sustainable use and legal protection. 9 quantitative and 14 qualitative traits were characterized based on (IBPGR 1990) eggplant descriptor list. Significant (P < 0.01) correlations were observed between several related traits of high agronomic importance and breeding potentials in selection of genetically divergent parents for hybridization. Yield was positively correlated with leaf area (r = 0.2), fruit length and width (r > 0.5) and fruit weight (r = 0.8) but inversely related with number of fruits per plant (r =- 0.6) and plant height (r = - 0.5). The phenogram constructed through UPGMA clustering method showed the phenetic relationship between S. melongena accessions, their related species and wild types. It classified the S. melongena accessions into Long, Semi long, Round and Oblong cultivar groups based on fruit shape, colour and size. Principal Component Analysis revealed that fruit characters were important marker traits with a large coefficient of variation (> 40 percent) that most effectively discriminated between eggplant accessions and hence useful in establishing a simple but effective eggplant classification system at the gene bank. Key words: characterization, eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), morphological diversity, Mauritius. CBM Master’s Thesis No. 57 - 2 - Houshna Naujeer /Morphological diversity in eggplant genetic resources in Mauritius CBM Master’s Thesis No. 57 - 3 - Houshna Naujeer /Morphological diversity in eggplant genetic resources in Mauritius Content Introduction 7 Research rationale 8 Introduction to the species 9 Material and Method 18 Planting Material 18 Experiment site 20 Establishment of field evaluation plot 20 Morphological Characterization 23 On- farm characterization of farmer’s varieties 24 Survey on eggplant landraces, their ethno botanical features and cultivation practices 24 Data Analysis 24 Result 26 Plant and inflorescence characteristics 26 Leaf Characteristics 29 Fruit Characteristics 31 Principal Component Analysis 38 On Farm Field Survey 43 Discussion 49 Conclusion and Recommendations 54 Acknowledgement 56 References 57 CBM Master’s Thesis No. 57 - 4 - Houshna Naujeer /Morphological diversity in eggplant genetic resources in Mauritius Appendix 1. IBPGR (1990) Eggplant Descriptor List 62 Appendix 2. Survey Questionnaires 68 CBM Master’s Thesis No. 57 - 5 - Houshna Naujeer /Morphological diversity in eggplant genetic resources in Mauritius List of abbreviations Agricultural Research and Extension Unit AREU Anonymous Anon Convention on Biological Diversity CBD Food and Agricultural Organisation FAO International Board for Plant Genetic Resources Institute IBPGR International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture ITPGRFA Ministry of Agriculture MOA Plant Genetic Resources Unit PGRU CBM Master’s Thesis No. 57 - 6 - Houshna Naujeer /Morphological diversity in eggplant genetic resources in Mauritius Introduction Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), also known as aubergine, brinjal or Guinea squash is an economically important vegetable crop widely cultivated in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate regions (Sihachakr et al. 1994). It originated from South East Asia (Lester and Hasan 1991) and belongs to the Solanaceae family. The world production was estimated at 32 million tons in 2007 with China (18 million tons) and India (8.4 million tons) as the greatest producers (FAOSTAT 2007). Eggplant is a good source of minerals and vitamins (particularly iron) making its total nutritional value comparable with tomato (Kalloo 1993). It is an inexpensive but major food component of the human diet in the developing world most particularly in India and China (Doganlar et al. 2002a). Its close relatives, Solanum macrocarpon L. and Solanum aethiopicum L., the Gboma and Scarlet African eggplants are the most popular native traditional vegetables in West and Central Africa (Sekara et al. 2007). Besides being used as an important vegetable, eggplant has been extensively exploited in traditional medicine for treatment of many diseases (Khan 1979; Kashyap et al. 2003). Today, eggplant is cultivated worldwide and has a growing reputation (Doganlar et al. 2002a). Wide morphological diversity exists in eggplant, their related species and wild types observed for plant morphology (Inflorescence, leaf and fruit), physiology and biochemical properties (Daunay et al. 1991; Collonier et al. 2001). Fruit shape, size, colour and taste are the most noticeable characters that vary among individuals (Frary et al. 2007). Eggplant is susceptible to several pests (fruit and shoot borer; Leucinodes sp.) and diseases (Fusarium, Verticillium and Bacterial wilt), nematodes (Meloidogyne sp.) as well as abiotic stress conditions (Sihachakr et al. 1994; Kashyap et al. 2003). Their wild relatives in contrast offer better resistance to most of these destructive pests and pathogens and are more tolerant to drought and salinity problems (Swarup 1995). Besides, they contain useful genes that can be exploited in genetic improvement of cultivated eggplant varieties. Mauritius has a rich eggplant genetic diversity of high breeding value and important implication for research and conservation. Also locally known as “Bringelle”, eggplant is an economically important and morphologically diverse vegetable crop widely cultivated across the Island with an annual production of 2839 tonnes over an area of 216 ha (Anon 2006a). As a common vegetable in the Mauritian diet, eggplant is widely consumed by the local people in several types of dishes but also appreciated in hotels too. Introduced into the Island during the first human settlement in 17th century and most probably CBM Master’s Thesis No. 57 - 7 - Houshna Naujeer /Morphological diversity in eggplant genetic resources in Mauritius originating from South East Asia and African countries (Rouillard and Gueho 1999), primitive eggplant cultivars have acquired unique horticultural traits and thus evolved into important landraces. Their wild relatives, Solanum torvum Sw. (white flowers) and Solanum violaceum Ort. (violet flowers) have become naturalised in Mauritius (Anon 2006b). Heterogeneity in pedoclimatic (soil and climate) conditions and farmers selection for adaptation to local tastes and uses across many generations appear to have generated significant level of diversity at both the inter and intra specific levels in eggplant landraces. Considering the widespread cultivation, nutritional and economic importance of eggplant in Mauritius, annual production has increased from 2097 tonnes in 2003 to 2839 tonnes in 2006 (Anon 2006a). However, agriculture today is heavily dependent on newly introduced modern hybrid cultivars. Furthermore, there is a paradigm shift among local farmers towards high yielding hybrid varieties resulting in genetic erosion and significant loss of important eggplant landraces and their associated traditional knowledge. The survey conducted at farmer’s fields revealed that high susceptibility of hybrid varieties to serious pests and diseases most particularly bacterial wilt (Pseudomonas solanacearum) is a major constraint faced in commercial eggplant production. Low water availability, salinity problems and heavy fertilisation requirement are the other limiting factors. Conservation and sustainable use of its crop genetic resources remains a priority consideration in Mauritius to ensure food security, while improving the health and diet of the nation (Anon 2006b). Genetic variability as manifested in morphological and molecular diversity can be effectively used to develop more productive transgenic local eggplant cultivars with improved agronomic traits such as better resistance to pests and diseases, enhanced fruit quality with longer shelf life and better adaptability to changing environmental conditions. Morphological characterization is essential to describe the distinctive characteristics of cultivars and landraces (UPOV 1991) and therefore considered as the starting point in eggplant plant diversity structure and gene- to-phenotype relationship analysis. It is also useful for characterizing individual accessions and cultivars as a genetic guide in selection of parents for hybridization (Singh et al. 2006) while broadening the genetic base of the cultivated eggplant varieties. Besides, genetic definition of cultivated crop is important for value