Diversity analysis in eggplant germplasm in india using DIVA-GIS approach

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an important solanaceous vegetable crop of Indian origin having immense variability in morphological descriptors evolved in different agro-ecological zones of the country. Among the 2,500 accessions conserved in the National Gene Bank at National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, 20% were randomly selected for morphological diversity analysis. Wide range of variation was recorded for 21 descriptors studied. Shannon Diversity Index (H) for traits ranged from for fruit position (0.01), fruit curvature (0.20), plant growth habit (0.46), fruit apex shape (0.52), leaf blade tip angle (0.64), plant height (0.71), petiole color (0.76), leaf blade colour (0.77), leaf prickles on upper surface (0.84), fruit peduncle prickles (0.87), calyx spininess (0.95), calyx colour (0.99), plant spread(1.01), corolla colour (1.02), fruit seediness (1.03), fruit density (1.03), fruit colour distribution (1.10), leaf blade lobbing (1.15), fruit shape (1.30), fruit length breadth ratio (1.40) to a maximum of 1.51 for fruit colour. Morphological diversity and accessions’ collection site data are integrated using DIVA-GIS software for diversity analysis, and finding gaps relating to germplasm collection and conservation of eggplant germplasm. Grid maps generated for the diversity analysis of several fruit descriptors indicated the occurrence of diverse accessions for plant height from the states of Karnataka, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, for fruit colour from Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal and for fruit shape from eastern states. The study would help in better management and utilization of eggplant genetic resources in the country.