Centre of Origin, Inter-relationship, and Crossability in Solanum melongena (Brinjal)

Solanum, a member of family Solaneaceae, is a large and diverse genus of annual and perennial plants containing nearly 2000 species of which 37 are native to Asia. They grow as forbs, vines, sub-shrubs, shrubs, and small trees, and often have attractive fruit and flowers (Khan. R., 1979). In India, the genus is represented by 45 species out of which several species are cultivated including S. lycopersicum (Tomato), S. tuberosum (Potato) and S. melongena (Brinjal). Centres of Origin of cultivated plants are identified on the basis of the number and diversity of wild species as well as the number of endemic species of the concerned genus in a given region, while the Centres of Diversity are recognized on the basis of the number and diversity of different varieties, wild and cultivated, of the species. The Centres of Origin and Centres of Diversity of crop plants as known to us are largely based on circumstantial evidence. In the cases of crops that are extensively cultivated over wide geographical ranges, a large number of new varieties were continuously developed, involving a large number of parents, making the issues virtually intangible (Rao and Shantharam, 2009) Solanum melongena L., popularly known as eggplant, brinjal or aubergine, is a widely grown vegetable of Asia, parts of Europe and Africa. Several advanced cultivars and numerous landraces are cultivated in India for their young, unripe fruits, which are consumed fresh, dried or pickled. (Karihaloo and Gottileb, 1995) With regards to the origin of S.melongena, the scientists have varied opinion, however there is consensus that India or Indo-China is the Centre of diversit