Biotechnological methods in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) improvement

The eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an agronomically important solanaceous crop grown primarily for its (large oval) fruits. It is commonly used as a vegetable crop. Eggplant has insufficient levels of resistance to biotic (pathogens and pests) and abiotic (high salinity and drought) stress that cause serious crop losses. This problem has been addressed by hybridizing S. melongena L. with wild resistant Solanum species, which present a wide genetic diversity and are source of useful agronomic traits. However, this approach is limited by sexual incompatibilities and difficulties in obtaining fertile progenies. Therefore, main focus will emphasize information on the biotechnological aspects of eggplant improvement. Today biotechnological approaches are used to breed plants with new traits that benefit agricultural production, the environment, and human nutrition and health. Biotechnological methods like in vitro propagation, the availability of efficient protocols for in vitro regeneration, both via organogenesis and embryogenesis, in vitro androgenesis, somatic hybridization, in vitro selection and genetic transformation have allowed overcoming the constraints of conventional breeding, and identification and introduction of useful genes that confer resistance to various pathogens and pests, and tolerance to abiotic stress in eggplant.