Determination of hybridation possibilities between solanum melongena and wild relatives for rootstock and li̇ne breeding

Eggplant (S. melongena) is one of the most important vegetables grown worldwide. However, it is susceptible to many soil-borne diseases and pests and this causes significant crop losses. On the other hand, wild relatives of S. melongena are known to be a good genetic resource, especially in terms of resistance to biotic and abiotic stress factors. This study was carried out in order to determine the possibilities of hybridization of some important wild eggplant species with each other and with S. melongena, to develop new interspecies hybrids, to determine the use of this interspecies hybrids as a graft rootstock, and to determine the resistance of the hybrids to Verticillium dahlia and Fusarium oxysporum. In the study the success rate of crosses made varied between 0-80%.The highest fruit set rate was obtained from hybrids of S. aethiopicum group Shum × S.linnaeanum (10), S.integrifolium × S. melongena (Anamur F4), S.integrifolium × Pala, S. aethiopicum group Aculeatum × S.anguivi (29), S.integrifolium × S.anguivi. It has been determined that the use of Solanum lichtensteini, S.khasianum, Solanum sisymbriifolium and Solanum macrocarpon as female parent affects the success negatively. Highest fruit set rate obtained from S. aethiopicum group Shum × S.linnaeanum (10), S.integrifolium × S. melongena (Anamur F4), S.integrifolium × Pala, S. aethiopicum group Aculeatum × S.anguivi (29), S.integrifolium × S.anguivi hybrids. When the effect of interspecies hybrids on rootstock yield was examined, the number of marketable fruits per plant varied between 29.31 and 63.01. While the highest fruit number was taken from S.aethiopicum × S. melongena (Yamula) rootstock, the lowest fruit number was taken from S.integrifolium x S. melongena (Anamur F4) rootstock. Yield values per plant of grafted eggplant combinations varied between 5.53 kg and 10.91 kg. The highest yield values were obtained from Control (Anamur F1), S. melongena (Pala) × S.aethiopicum group Gilo, S.anguivi (29) × S.incanum (21) rootstocks, respectively. While 5 of 42 lines were found to be susceptible to V.dahliae, 18 were found to be low resistant, 18 were moderately resistant and 1 were highly resistant. 18 of 34 hybrid genotypes was found to be highly resistant, 2 genotypes moderately resistant, 7 genotypes low resistance and 7 genotypes susceptible to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae. S. linnaeanum was found to be highly resistant to both Fusarium and Verticilium. S. linnaeanum was found to be highly resistant to both Fusarium and Verticilium wilt.