Investigation of the crossability of different eggplant species for obtaining different breeding populations

In eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), significant crop loss occurs in infested areas by pathogens or pests, since it is susceptible to several diseases and pests. Given the narrow genetic base of commercial eggplant cultivars (especially F1 hybrid cultivars), it can be stated that in order to develop resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses in cultivated eggplant, it is necessary to use wild eggplant species which are resistant to such characteristics in breeding program. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate crossability of interspecific hybrids of "S. melongena x S. incanum" with S. linnaeanum, S. macrocarpon and S. aethiopicum, and then to study hybridization of eggplant cultivars such as Faselis F1, Karnaz F1 and Aydın Siyahı with the successful ones of these interspecific hybrids, for obtaining different breeding populations to use in rootstock and/or cultivar development. As a result of unidirectional crosses between the true hybrids of "Faselis F1 x S. incanum" and the other wild species, fruit (10.00-75.00%) and seed formation (93.57-115.54 seeds per fruit) were occurred only from the crossing combination of "(Faselis F1 x S. incanum) x S. linnaeanum". The germination (5.85-46.55%) and plant formation (4.56-36.63%) rates of these seeds varied depending on the seed production periods. The true interspecific hybrids were determined by SSR markers. The pollen viability and in vitro germination of the cultivars and true hybrids genotypes were investigated. In terms of the pollen viability and germination, it has been determined that there was variation (0.00-54.84 and 0.00-12.54%) among interspecific hybrid genotypes of "(S. melongena x S. incanum) x S. linnaeanum". When the "(Faselis F1 x S. incanum) x S. linnaeanum" hybrid genotypes were selfed or hybridized as maternal parent, no fruit was generally formed, however only at one period a very low fruit formation (1.92% or 1.28-1.67%) was determined. Also, fruit (0.00-30.48, 8.82-15.15 and 0.00-20.00%) and seed (0.00-20.38, 2.33-15.20 and 0.00-16.66 seeds per fruit) formation occurred when the Faselis F1, Karnaz F1 and Aydın Siyahı cultivars were used as maternal plant and these "(Faselis F1 x S. incanum) x S. linnaeanum" hybrids as parental ones. The germination and plant formation rates of the seeds varied depending on the maternal cultivars Faselis F1 (16.66 and 16.66%) and Karnaz F1 (0.00-14.47 and 11.84%). As a result of the study, it was shown that eggplant populations with different resistance characteristics, could be obtained by hybridization of "Faselis F1 x S. incanum" and S. linnaeanum, and then crossing of "(Faselis F1 x S. incanum) x S. linnaeanum" genotypes with eggplant cultivars, to improve rootstocks and eggplant cultivars.