Hybridization and fertility of hybrid derivatives of Solatium melongena L. and Solanum macrocarpon L.

Summary Eleven genotypes of Solanum melongena L. and one genotype tentatively identified as Solanum macrocarpon were reciprocally intercrossed. Three patterns of the crossability were determined: a) reciprocally crossable, b) reciprocally non-crossable, and c) unidirectionally crossable. In toto 524 F₁ interspecific hybrids were grown during one season under open pollination conditions in the field. A large proportion of the F₁ hybrids produced seed set. The highest degree of seed set was recorded in the reciprocal F₁ hybrid of S. melongena (cv. Burpee Hybrid) and S. macrocarpon (Acc. 21–73). In addition, a limited number of back-cross progeny have been produced. The germinating seeds produced an F₂ generation of which some recombinants showed a considerably higher degree of fertility than the F₁. This finding suggests the possibility of the transfer of genes for resistance to two-spotted spider mite from S. macrocarpon to S. melongena.This research was performed as part of NJAES Project No. 99201 (NE-9) supported by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and Regional Hatch Funds. Paper of the Journal Series of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Please address reprint requests to Dr. C. Boyer