EVALUATION OF GENETIC VARIABILITY IN EMBRYOGENETIC AND ANDROGENETIC LINES OF EGGPLANT

Five doubled haploid lines of eggplant cv Dourga and seven somaclonal lines of cv Floralba were seperately compared to the sexual progeny of their donor plant. Replicate field trials were carried out in two locations in 1988 and 1989. Locations and years had an highly significant effect for all the recorded traits. Three doubled haploid lines showed significant differences for yield, fruit number and fruit shape index, while significant differences for fruit weight and plant height were found in two somaclones. The traits altered by in vitro techniques had higher mean value for doubled haploid lines whereas for somaclonal lines they were depressed. The results of this study indicate that in vitro genetic variability resulting from anther culture can be readly used for pratical breeding purposes.