Interspecific hybrids between three eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cultivars and two wild species (Solanum torvum Sw. and Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam.)

Three Greek eggplant cultivars, 'Langada', 'Tsakoniki' and 'Emi' (2n = 24), were crossed with two wild species (Solanum torvum Sw., 2n = 24 and Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam., 2n = 24). Ovules isolated 15-27 days after pollination were cultured in a modified MS medium at 24 degrees C and a 16h photoperiod. Fifty days later, the ovules were dissected and the interspecific embryos were cultured in the same medium. Interspecific hybrids were achieved only from crosses between the eggplant cultivars and S. torvum. The hybridity of the putative interspecific F-1 hybrid (Solanum melongena x S. torvum) was confirmed by using morphological and biochemical (isozyme isocitrate dehydrogenase A, phosphoglucomutase A, phosphoglucose isomerase B, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase A, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase B) markers. The F-1 plants ('Langada' x S. torvum) were self-pollinated and backcrossed to both parents. Fruits, however, were produced only when the F-1 hybrid was backcrossed as female with the eggplant cultivar 'langada'.