EFFECT OF NUMBER OF LATERAL ROOTS ON EGGPLANT GROWTH AND YIELD

Abstract

Root characteristics of eggplant (Solanum melongena L. ’Black Beauty’) were studied with the objectives of determining (1) the population distribution of number of lateral roots per seedling and (2) the relationship between the number of lateral roots per seedling on growth and fruit production. The number of lateral roots ranged from 1 to 34 per seedling with a mean of 12.7 for the total population (600 seedlings). The seedlings were separated into three groups based on the number of lateral roots: A, 20–34; B, 10–19; and C, 1–9. Seedlings of each root group were transplanted outdoors and growth characteristics were measured periodically. No differences were found in plant survival or dieback among groups. Plants in group A produced 54, 41 and 27% more fruit, total plant dry weight and leaf area, respectively, than plants in group C. A positive relationship was found between numbers of lateral roots per plant and various growth parameters. Eggplant vegetative growth, early fruit maturity and total fruit production were dependent upon the number of lateral roots on a seedling at transplanting, the optimal number of which was between 12 and 16.Key words: Solanum melongena L., transplanting, root production, leaf area, fruit maturity, eggplant