Evaluation of 10 Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Genotypes for Development of Cultivars Suitable for Short-Term Waterlogged Conditions

Eggplant is an important vegetable in South Asia. In Bangladesh, it is grown around the year in all parts of the country. However, it is highly sensitive to waterlogged conditions. In Bangladesh, during the monsoon, waterlogged conditions represent one of the hostile abiotic stresses that affect the growth and development of eggplant, leading to a drastically reduced yield. Considering this burning issue, the current study aimed to identify waterlogging-tolerant eggplant cultivars suitable for growing in the summer season. In this context, a factorial field experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design. The treatments consisted of factor A, waterlogged levels: (i) I-0: no waterlogging (control; normal irrigation and drainage); (ii) I-1: waterlogging for 48 h maintained by 25 mm constant standing water depth; (iii) I-2: waterlogging for 96 h maintained by 25 mm constant standing water depth; and factor B, eggplants (including existing varieties and advance lines): V-1: BARI Begun-8, V-2: BARI Begun-10, V-3: BARI Hybrid Begun-4, V-4: BARI Hybrid Begun-5, V-5: BARI Hybrid Begun-6, V-6: BARI Adv. Line-SM216, V-7: BARI Adv. Line-SM233, V-8: BARI Adv. Line-SM253B, V-9: BARI Adv. Line-SM275, and V-10: BARI Adv. Line-SM286B. The results revealed that the eggplant varieties were sensitive to waterlogging levels, particularly at the flowering/fruiting stage (46 days after planting, DAP). Among the varieties, V-5 (BARI Hybrid Begun-6) performed better than the other varieties and lines. The variety V-5 had significantly lower damage (20%) and greater survival (80%) ability under 48 h of waterlogging (I-1) at 65 DAP and 80 DAP, while the others were observed to have significantly greater damage and lower survival ability. The variety V-5 also showed significantly greater root biomass under 48 h (I-1) and 96 h (I-2) of waterlogging at 70 DAP, while the other varieties and lines showed significantly lower root biomass. The effect of waterlogging on SPAD value and root biomass was significantly different among the treatments. It was observed that no varieties and lines survived at 80 DAP under 96 h of waterlogging (I-2). The identified waterlogging-tolerant eggplant BARI Hybrid Begun-6 will be helpful for increasing the area and production of eggplant in the summer season.