Morphological Characterisation and Performance Evaluation of Local Eggplant Varieties in Southern Chad

In recent years, climate change has had a negative impact on agricultural production, and Chad has been unable to meet its food needs. Aubergines, which are rarely grown and neglected, can be used as a food supplement. The aim of this study is to determine the morphological characteristics of local aubergine varieties and evaluate their performance. The trial was conducted using a split-plot design with four treatments, T1, T2, T3 and T4, corresponding respectively to white-fleshed aubergine, large green aubergine, white-green aubergine and small green aubergine, repeated four times. Treatment T4 (64.85 cm ± 4.35) recorded the highest plant height, followed by T2 (61.1 cm ± 11.2). Treatment T4 (143.8 ± 22) recorded the highest number of leaves per plant, followed by T3 (110.25 ± 7.95). Treatment T2 (19.6 cm ± 1.4) recorded the highest leaf length, followed by T1 (19.2 cm ± 1). Treatment T4 (461 ± 122.5) obtained the highest number of fruits, followed by treatment T3 (207.75 ± 28.875). Treatment T1 (3.39 cm ± 0.415) obtained the highest fruit length, followed by treatment T2 (3.26 cm ± 0.21). Short fruit lengths were observed in T4 (1.975 cm ± 0.095) and T3 (2.92 cm ± 0.14). Treatment T2 (5.3 cm ± 0.5) had the highest fruit diameter, followed by treatment T3 (4.895 cm ± 0.195). Treatment T4 (22.395 kg/12 m² ± 1.76) recorded the highest yield, followed by treatment T3 (15.18 kg/12 m² ± 7.75). Treatments T4 (Aub.vm) and T3 (Aub.bv) performed well. These two varieties can be made available to producers to combat food insecurity.