Genetic Diversity for Fruit Yield and Yield-Related Traits in Eggplant Genotypes

To study genetic diversity for yield and yield-related traits in eggplant, 86 local and commercial eggplant cultivars, grown by farmers in Iran, were evaluated for eight yield-related traits using randomized complete block design with three replications under greenhouse conditions in winter 2020. Analysis of variance of data showed that genotypes had significant differences for all measured traits. Fruit yield plant-1, fruit number plant-1 and fruit weight of genotypes varied from 60.3 to 5151 grams, 1.23 to 39 and 14.3 to 387.9 grams, respectively. Mean comparison revealed that the cv. Sable had the highest fruit yield plant-1 followed by genotypes no. 4, 2 and 5, respectively. Genotypes no. 76, 72, 70, 74 and 66 had the lowest fruit yield plant-1, respectively. Principal components analysis showed that three independent components explained 63% of the total variation. Cluster analysis using Ward method clustered studied eggplant genotypes in four different groups. These results were consistent with fruit yield performance of eggplant genotypes. Stepwise regression showed that three traits of fruit number plant-1, fruit weight and fruit width had the greatest effect on fruit yield plant-1. Path analysis showed that fruit weight and fruit number plant-1 traits had direct effect on fruit yield plant-1. The results of this research can be used to develop breeding populations for selection pure lines in eggplant breeding programs.