Androgenic dihaploids from somatic hybrids between Solanum melongena and S-aethiopicum group gilo as a source of resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp melongenae

Dihaploid plants were obtained through anther culture of somatic hybrids between eggplant and Solanum aethiopicum gilo. The androgenic origin of the dihaploids was demonstrated by ploidy determination (flow cytometry and chloroplast counting) and isozyme and molecular (I-SSR and RAPDs) analyses. The androgenic plants showed significant morphological variability in the traits analysed. Pollen viability in the diploid androgenic plants was drastically reduced with respect to the somatic hybrids; however most of the dihaploids produced parthenocarpic fruits. S. aethiopicum and the somatic hybrids showed complete resistance to fungal wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae. Out of the 41 dihaploids inoculated, 34 were symptomless. The population of androgenic plants developed may represent a useful source for introgression of the Fusarium resistance trait into eggplant.