Abstract
Winter production of three eggplant hybrids transgenic for the parthenocarpic gene DefH9-iaaM was compared, in an unheated greenhouse, to the performance of two untransformed control hybrids and the commercial parthenocarpic cultivar Talina. Each hybrid was either treated or untreated with a commercial formulation of phytohormones to induce fruit set and growth. The productivity of the transgenic parthenocarpic hybrids was not influenced by the hormonal treatment. On the contrary, the productivity of untransformed hybrids was significantly improved by hormonal treatment of the flower buds. The yield of the transgenic hybrids was significantly higher than that obtained in the corresponding untransformed hybrids, even when the latter were treated with phytohormones. The yield increment due to the parthenocarpic trait was particularly evident when compared to the yield of the two corresponding hybrid combinations, which are identical except for the presence of the DefH9-iaaM gene. The transgenic hybrids allowed an increase in productivity of ca. 25%. This increment coincided with a 10% reduction in cultivation cost, mainly due to the labour needed for the hormonal sprays, and to the production of fruits of better quality. Thus, the DefH9-iaaM gene is a biotechnological tool superior to both agronomic and traditional genetic parthenocarpic mutants.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Altamore L.: I costi di produzione nel ragusano. Terra e Vita 48: 63–64 (1997).
Archbold DD, Dennis FG: Strawberry receptacle growth and endogenous IAA content as affected by growth regulator application and achene removal. J Am Soc Hort Sci 110: 816–820 (1985).
Aubert S, Daunay MC, Pochard E: Saponosides stéroidiques de l'aubergine (Solanum melongena L.). I. Intéret alimentaire, méthodologie d'analyse, localisation dans le fruit Agronomie 9: 641–651 (1989).
Aubert S, Daunay, MC, Pochard E: Saponosides stéroidiques de l'aubergine (Solanum melongena L.). II. Variations des teneurs liées aux conditions de récolte, aux génotypes et à la quantité de graines de fruits. Agronomie 9: 751–758 (1989).
Daunay MC: Recherches sur l'aubergine. INRA Ann Rep 1981-1982, Avignon Vegetable Breedings Station, pp. 17-22.
De Ponti OMB: Breeding parthenocarpic pickling cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.): necessity, genetical possibilities, environmental influences and selection criteria. Euphytica 25: 29–40 (1976).
Ficcadenti N, Sestili S, Pandolfini T, Cirillo C, Rotino GL, Spena A: Genetic engineering of parthenocarpic fruit development in tomato. Mol Breed (in press).
Fernandez-Munoz R, Cuartero J, Gomez-Guillamon ML: Efficiency of bumble bees on the yield and quality of eggplant and tomato grown in unheated greenhouse. Acta Hort 412: 268–274 (1995).
Freed R, Eisensmith S.P, Goetz S, Reicosky D, Smail VW, Wolberg P: MSTAT ver 4.0: a microcomputer program for design, management and analysis of agronomic research experiments. Michigan State University (1985).
Hennart JW: Sélection de l'aubergine. PHM Revue Hort 374: 37–40 (1996).
Khishnamoorthy HN: Plant Growth Substance-Including Application in Agriculture. Tata McGray, New Delhi (1981).
Krug H: Environmental influences on development, growth and yield. In: Wien HC (ed) The Physiology of Vegetable Crops, pp. 101–180. CAB International, Cambridge (1997).
Leonardi C, Romano D: Controllo della fruttificazione della melanzana in serra. Colture Protette 7/8: 67–91 (1997).
Lipari V, Paratore A: Parthenocarpy and auxinic treatments in fruiting of tomato in a cold greenhouse. Acta Hort 229: 307–312 (1988).
Lukyanenko AN: Parthenocarpy in tomato In: Kalloo G (ed) Genetic Improvement of Tomato, pp. 167–175. Monographs on Theoretical and Applied Genetics, Springer-Verlag, Berlin (1991).
Mapelli S, Frova C, Torti G, Soressi GP: Relationship between set, development and activities of growth regulators in tomato fruits. Plant Cell Physiol 19: 1281–1288 (1978). 86
Nothman J, Koller D: Effects of growth regulators on fruit and seed development in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). J Hort Sci 50: 23–27 (1975).
Nothman J, Rylski I, Spigelman M: Flowering-pattern, fruit growth and colour development of egg-plant during the cool season in a subtropical climate. Sci Hort 11: 217–222 (1979).
Philouze J: Parthénocarpie naturelle chez tomate. II. Etude d'une collection variétale. Agronomie 5(1): 47–54 (1985).
Restaino F, Brighina A: Effetti dei fitormoni sulla melanzana allevata in serra. Genet Agraria 32: 223–242 (1969).
Restaino F, Onofaro V, Mennella G: Facultative parthenocarpic genotypes of eggplant obtained through induced mutation. Proceedings 13th Eucarpia Congress, Angers, pp. 297-298 (1992).
Rotino GL, Perri E, Zottini M, Sommer H, Spena A: Genetic engineering of parthenocarpic plants. Nature Biotech 15: 1398–1401 (1997).
Sarma CM, Barman TS: Production of parthenocarpic fruits in brinjal (Solanum melongena Linn.) by the application of β-napthoxyacetic acid (β-NOA). Indian J Hort 34: 422–425 (1977).
Sunseri F, Fiore MC, Mastrovito F, Tramontano E, Rotino GL: In vivo selection and genetic analysis for kanamycin resistance in transgenic eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). J Genet Breed 47: 299–306 (1993).
Yamada T, Palm CJ, Brooks B, Kosuge T: Nucleotide sequence of the Pseudomonas savastanoi indoleacetic acid genes show homology with Agrobacterium tumefaciens TDNA. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 82: 6522–6526 (1985).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Donzella, G., Spena, A. & Rotino, G.L. Transgenic parthenocarpic eggplants: superior germplasm for increased winter production. Molecular Breeding 6, 79–86 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009613529099
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009613529099