Morpho-molecular diversity in Indian brinjal genotypes

Aim: To identify morphological and molecular diversity of eggplant genotypes for utilization in breeding programmes for widening the narrow genetic base of brinjal. Methodology: Twelve brinjal genotypes varying in shape, size and colour were studied for twenty-six morphological traits, based on which principal component analysis and agglomerative hierarchical clustering were performed. Molecular characterization was done using SSR markers. Results: Wide variability was observed for the morphological and earliness traits. The first three principal components accounted for 74.88% of the total variation. The major contributors to the variation were fruit pedicel prickles, leaf prickles, fruit breadth, plant spread, plant stature, calyx spininess, number of primary branches, days to 50% flowering, and plant growth habit. Clustering of genotypes formed two major clusters, with big sized round or oblong genotypes in one cluster and long or oval smaller-sized genotypes in the other cluster and crossing between the genotypes of different clusters would be an effective breeding strategy. Eight polymorphic SSR markers could distinguish between these twelve genotypes. Jaccard’s similarity coefficient showed that Pusa Purple Cluster and Pusa Purple Long were least similar, while Pusa Shyamla and Rajendra Baigan-2 were most similar, and lesser similar genotypes would be potential parental lines for brinjal. Interpretation: Genotypes in different clusters, with dissimilarity based on both morphological and molecular characterization may be used as parental lines for breeding programmes. The major contributor traits identified for the variation may be used as selection criteria.