Development of new long brinjal variety GLB 11 in Gujarat state

Introduction

Brinjal or eggplant, popularly known as brinjal or aubergine (Solanum melongena L.) is among the extensively cultivated vegetables having chromosome number 2n= 2x= 24. It is self-pollinated crop belonging to the family Solanaceae. The name brinjal is popular in Indian subcontinents and is derived from Arabic and Sanskrit words, whereas, the name eggplant has been derived from the shape of the fruit of some varieties, which are white and resemble in shape to chicken eggs. Eggplant is a day neutral plant grown throughout the year, is a common and popular vegetable crop in the subtropics and tropics mainly for its immature fruits as vegetables. It is known by different names like Begun (Bengali), Ringna (Gujarati), Baingan, (Hindi), Vange (Marathi), Baigan (Oriya), Vashuthana (Malayalam), Kathiri (Tamil), Venkaya and Abhala (Sanskrit). A large number of cultivars differing in size, shape and colour of fruits are grown in India. The combining ability analysis helps in the evaluation of inbreeds in terms of their genetic value, and in the selection of suitable parents for hybridization. It also helps in the identification of superior cross combinations which may be utilized for commercial exploitation of heterosis. Consequently, it is also referred to as the common man's vegetable in the Indian subcontinent owing to its yeararound availability (Saini et al. 2019) [4] . Among brinjal producers; China, India, Japan and Turkey are the four major countries. China is the world's top eggplant grower, accounting for more than half of world acreage and India stands second, with about one quarter of the world total production by India, In India during 2022-23, Brinjal acreage was 6,81,000 hectare with 1,29,72,000 matric tones production. Gujarat sown an area of 81,673 hectare under brinjal cultivation and a production of 16, 24,682 matric tones. Gujarat contributes 9.60 and 10.40% shares of brinjal in total area and production, respectively. Brinjal secured third rank after potato, okra and onion in area and production in Gujarat. The major districts of Gujarat growing brinjal are Vadodara, Banaskantha, Junagadh, Surat, Bhavnagar, Tapi, Kheda, Anand, Suredranagar, Rajkot, Amreli and Gandhinagar occupied more than 75% area and more than 77% production of total brinjal crop.

Materials and Methods

Brinjal variety GLB-11 was developed by hybridization between GJB-2 x JBL-10-15 followed by pedigree method of selection. This genotype was tested as an entry in PET during 2019-20 and onwards at multiplications trials in LSVT in the state from the year 2021-22 to 2023-24. This genotype was also tested in AICRP (VC) from 2021-22 to 2023-24. Because of its good performance in state trials, the entry GLB-11was tested under All India Coordinated vegetable Research Projectfrom 2012-13 to 2017-18 at different locations in India.

Results and Discussion

The results on fruit yield of GLB-11 was evaluated at Junagadh, Anand, Waghai and Ladol centers during late kharif/rabi from 2019-20 to 2023-24 at different state level varietal testing trials along with the check varieties; GJLB-4, GAB-6 and Punjab Sadabahar. This variety was recorded mean fruit yield of 440.2 q/ha, which was 12.0% higher than the check variety GJLB-4 (393.0 q/ha) under 11 testing trials, whereas, in 9 testing trials this variety has recorded 438.4 q/ha fruit yield, which was 12.4 and 20.8% higher than the check varieties GAB-6 (390.2 q/ha) and Punjab Sadabahar (362.9 q/ha), respectively (Table 1). Looking to the zone wise yield data, it can be concluded that the genotype GLB-11 performed better on all the zones except North Gujarat as compared to check varieties GJLB-4, GAB-6 and Punjab Sadabahar. In South Saurashtra Agro-climatic zone (Junagadh), GLB-11 recorded higher mean fruit yield of 473.9 q/ha, and 491.1 q/ha, which was 25.2%, 39.8% and 41.7% higher over check varieties; GJLB-4 (378.5 q/ha), GAB-6 (351.4 q/ha) and Punjab Sadabahar (346.7 q/ha), respectively (Table -2) In Middle Gujarat Agro-climatic zone (Anand) GLB-11 was higher fruit yield (479.3 q/ha), which was 17.2%, 6.3% and 23.7% higher over check varieties GJLB-4 (409.0 q/ha), GAB-6 (451.0 q/ha) and Punjab Sadabahar (387.3 q/ha) (Table -2). In North Gujarat Agro-climatic zone (Ladol), this variety registered higher mean fruit yield of (334.1 q/ha) which was 2.1% higher over check variety Punjab Sadabahar (327.1 q/ha) (Table -2). In South Gujarat Agro-climatic zone (Waghai), GLB-11 was higher fruit yield (366.4 q/ha) which was 11.8% and 10.0% higher over the check varieties GJLB-4 (327.8 q/ha) and GAB-6 (333.1 q/ha) respectively (Table-2). Shymal, Hisar Pragati, Pusa Anmol and Pusa Uttam are the important varieties of brinjal (Baswana and Dharmveer Duhan, 2002) [2] . This genotype JBL 19-02 (GLB-11) was evaluated under All-India Co-Ordinated Varietal Trial under IET during 2021-22. It has been promoted in AVT-I during 2022-23 and evaluated in AVT-II during 2023-24. Fruits are medium in size with medium long. Fruit pulp is white with less number of seeds. Fruits are pinkish in colour with extra-long peduncle and good shining. Plant is tall with erect type habit. Average fruit length, girth and weight of this variety was 14 cm, 4 cm. and 85 gm respectively (Table 3). This variety showed was found comparable to all check varieties against little leaf disease and The jassids population and percent shoot & fruit borer damage were comparable to check varieties, while the whitefly population was found low as compared to check varieties. (Table-4&5). The results are supported by the work Rathod et al. (2017) [5] . The qualitative parameters of GLB-11were comparatively lower than GJLB-4, GAB-6 and Punjab Sadabahar. The fruits of this variety had lower total soluble sugar (3.32%) and total phenol (0.32%) compared to 3.95%, 4.30% and 4.10% and 0.47%, 0.79% and 0.44% GJLB-4, GAB-6 and Punjab Sadabahar respectively (Table 6), however, Moisture of GLB-11 (93.47%) was higher than check varieties GJLB-4 (92.57%), GAB-6(91.36%) and Punjab Sadabahar (93.33%). These results are in agreement with the findings of Rathod et al. (2017) [5] .

Recommendation for the farmers in Gujarat state

The farmers of Gujarat state growing the brinjal crop during late kharif /rabi season are recommended to grow brinjal variety Gujarat Long Brinjal-11(GLB-11: Sorath Priya). The variety has recorded a mean fruit yield of 440 q/ha, which was 12.0, 12.4 and 20.8 per cent higher over check varieties viz., GJLB-4(393 q/ha), GAB-6 (390 q/ha) and Punjab Sadabahar (363 q/ha), respectively. The fruits of GLB-11 are medium in size with a medium long shape and pinkish in colour with good shining. This variety was found comparable to all check varieties against little leaf disease. Whitefly population was found low as compared to check varieties.

References

1. Anon. Annual report 2005-06. New Delhi: Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India; 2005. p.41.
2. Baswana KS, Duhan D. Advances in vegetable production. Hisar: CCS Haryana Agricultural University; 2002. p. 64-69.
3. Bora L, Singh YV, Bhushan KB. Stability for fruit yield and contributing traits in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.). Veg Sci. 2011;38(1):194-196.
4. Saini DK, Kaushik P. Viewing eggplant from a biotechnological perspective: a review. Sci Hortic. 2019;253:327-340.
5. Rathod RK, Jivani LL, Purohit VL. Evaluation of yield performance of brinjal variety Gujarat Junagadh Brinjal-2 in Gujarat state. Trends Biosci. 2017;10(14):2519-2522.