Effects of gamma irradiation on the agro-morphological traits of selected Nigerian eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.) accessions

The mutagenic effects of gamma irradiation on the agro-morphological traits of eggplant accessions were investigated to induce useful genetic variability for further breeding programme. Seeds of two eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.) accessions (MN/S/02/2015 and NHGB/09/132) were collected from the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NAGRAB) Ibadan, Nigeria. The seeds were exposed to five different gamma irradiation doses (40 Gy, 60 Gy, 80 Gy, 100 Gy) and un-irradiated (0 Gy) as control at Centre for Energy and Research Training (CERT), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. The irradiated and the control seeds were planted in the Department of Plant Biology Garden in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replicates each. All the plants were characterized on the basis of agro-morphological traits such as germination percentage, plant height, Number of leaves/plant, leaf length, number of branches, number of days to first flowering number of fruit/plant and fruit weigh. The results obtained showed significant differences (P≤0.05) on the agro-morphological traits with the highest number of leaves per plant (62.25), number of fruits per plant (39.50) and fruit weight (2.08g) in MN/S/02/2015 and highest number of leaves per plant (55.75), number of fruits per plant (28.75) and fruit weight (1.44g) in NHGB/09/132 obtained in 60 Gy. Therefore, 40 Gy and 60 Gy doses of gamma irradiation were obtained to be appropriate in creating beneficial traits in eggplant (S. aethiopicum L.) accessions.