Eggplant

Solanum melongena

1. Identification and origin

The eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is a horticultural species of the Solanaceae family, grown mainly for its edible fruit. The most widely accepted origin is in Asia, with India as the probable primary centre of domestication, followed by secondary centres in China and Africa.

2. Economic importance

The eggplant is one of the most produced vegetables worldwide, with high culinary and commercial relevance. Global production exceeds 60 million tonnes per year, concentrated mainly in China and India. It is valued for its culinary versatility and for its content of bioactive compounds, including anthocyanins and phenols.

3. Botanical characterization

A perennial herbaceous plant, grown as an annual, with a habit between 40 and 150 cm. It has an erect stem, often spiny, large lobed leaves with greyish pubescence. The flowers are purple or white, with a corolla of five lobes. The fruit is a fleshy berry, of variable shape and colour, containing numerous small seeds.

4. Soil and climate requirements

The eggplant prefers a warm climate, developing best between 22–30 °C. It is sensitive to cold and to temperatures below 15 °C. It requires deep, well-drained soils, rich in organic matter and with a pH between 5.5 and 6.8. It tolerates short periods of drought but benefits from regular irrigation.

5. Main pests

• Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci): chlorosis and transmission of viruses.
• Aphids (Aphididae): sap-sucking and transmission of viruses.
• Mites (Tetranychidae): chlorotic spots and reduced vigour.
• Tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta): leaf perforations and damage to fruits.
• Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.): root galls and reduction of productivity.

6. Main diseases

• Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae): vascular necrosis and wilting.
• Root rots (Phytophthora, Pythium, Rhizoctonia): death of seedlings and collar rot.
• Powdery mildew (Erysiphe spp.): white mycelium on the leaves.
• Early blight (Alternaria solani): concentric spots on the leaves.
• Botrytis (Botrytis cinerea): grey rot under humid conditions.

7. General crop management

Management includes the use of healthy plants, crop rotation with non-Solanaceae, balanced fertilization and controlled irrigation. Formative pruning and staking may be necessary in larger cultivars. Adequate ventilation in the greenhouse reduces fungal diseases. Harvesting is carried out when the fruit shows gloss and firmness, before lignification of the seeds.

Bibliographic references

• EPPO Global Database – Solanum melongena.
• CABI Crop Compendium – Solanum melongena.
• Daunay, M. C. (2008). Eggplant. In: Prohens, J. & Nuez, F. (Eds.), Handbook of Plant Breeding: Vegetables II. Springer.
• Frary, A. & Doganlar, S. (2013). Eggplant. In: Genetics, Genomics and Breeding of Solanaceous Crops. CRC Press.
• FAOSTAT (2023). Global Eggplant Production Statistics.