Development of the Parthenocarpic Eggplant Cultivar 'Anominori'

Abstract

Using pollinator insects or treating flowers with phytohormones is necessary for stable fruit setting in forcing culture of eggplant using plastic houses. However, these means are costly and/or labor-intensive. Use of parthenocarpic cultivars is considered to be the most cost-effective solution for stable fruit setting under sub-optimal environmental conditions such as lower temperature in forcing culture. 'Anominori', a parthenocarpic eggplant cultivar, was developed by the National Institute of Vegetable and Tea Science in 2006. This cultivar is the F1 hybrid between two parthenocarpic inbred lines, 'AE-P08' and 'AE-P01'. 'AE-P08' was selected from the cross between an F3 plant derived from 'Nakate Shinkuro' × 'Talina' and an F4 plant derived from 'Talina' × 'Nasu Chuukanbohon Nou 1'. 'AE-P01' was selected from the cross between 'Talina' and 'Nasu Chuukanbohon Nou 1'. 'Anominori' can produce sufficient yields for commercial use without treating with phytohormones or using pollinator insects in forcing culture. The plant characteristics of 'Anominori' are the following: high plant height, long internode, thick stem and large leaves. The fruit of 'Anominori' at harvest stage is long egg-shaped and glossy dark purple. The flesh of fruit is very dense.