Agronomic Responses and Pollen Staining Abilities of Solanum melongena L. (Eggplant) and Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato)

Abstract

This study investigated two eggplant (Solanum melongena L) genotypes and two tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) genotypes of the Solanaceae species for vegetative, flowering, fruiting and pollen stainability. Seedlings of eggplant (Solanum melongena L) genotypes; a local NHEP 0093, and European F₁ hybrid Merdan 465 F₁ and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) genotypes; a local NHTO 0394, and European F₁ hybrid Thorgal F₁ raised in pre-nursery and nursery were transplanted into polythene bags filled with 20kg of loamy soil mixed with poultry manure. Treatments were replicated 6 times in a CRD. Data collected, plant height, leaves/plant, leaf area, flowers buds/plant, flowers/plant, days to flowering, and fruits/plant were analysed by ANOVA at 5% probability and means assessed at 5% probability by LSD. The stainability (%) of pollen in aceto-carmine was investigated for potential viability. Merdan 465 F₁ (46.0cm) was significantly taller than NHEP 0093 (26.4cm) but not NHTO 0394 (38.8cm) and Thorgal F₁ (34.7cm). NHTO 0394 had significantly more leaves (83) but significantly less leaf area (57.3cm²) than Thorgal F₁ (14.5) (107.6cm²), Merdan 465 F₁ (11.2) (172.0cm²) and NHEP 0039 (10.5) (157.0cm²). Merdan 465 F₁ flowered significantly later (103.0days) than NHTO 0394 (62.8days); earlier than Thorgal F₁ (77.8days) and NHEP 0039 (77.3days). NHTO 0394 had significantly more flowers (83.2) and fruits/plant (28.8) than Thorgal F₁ (23.8) (3.3), NHEP 0039 (4.2) (1.2) and Merdan 465 F₁ (3.0) (1). Leaves/plant and flowers/plant; leaves/plant and fruits/plant; and flowers/plant and fruits/plant were positively highly significantly correlated. Pollen stainability was NHEP 0039 (91%), Merdan 465 F₁ (86%), NHTO 0394 (78%), and Thorgal F₁ (65%).