Genetical Studies in West African Eggplant

Intervarietal hybrids in eggplants (S. melongena L.), varieties Bassawa-1 × Zaria-1, Ilorin -1 × Giwa-2, Giwa-1 × Zaria-1 and Bassawa-1 × Giwa-2, conspicuously demonstrated heterosis in their F₁. The height of plants, leaf indices and weight of fruits in F₁ hybrids far exceeded the mean values of two parents.

Inheritance studies indicated that the tall habit is controlled by a pair of factors; tallness (T) is dominant over dwarfness t. The deeply lobed leaf form is controlled by a pair of factors, L^L which is partially dominant over slightly lobed leaf 1^r and the medium lobed, intermediate leaf form has the genotype L^L1¹. Round fruit shape is controlled by a pair of factors, R^R which is dominant over both long oval and short oval r^r. Green colour of fruit is controlled by a pair of factors G^M which is partially dominant over white, g^m, and produces mosaic green colour in heterozygous condition G^Mg^m, whereas white with green stripe is controlled by a pair of factors W^GS, which is dominant over white w^gS.

Intervarietal hybridization played an important role in the evolution of different forms of West African eggplants since identical forms are found existing in nature as have been raised artificially for genetical studies.