Nutritional and Antioxidant Evaluation and Effect of Eggplant Consumption on Anthropometric and Hematologic Parameters in Wistar Rats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the nutritional quality of green and purple eggplant, their antioxidant activity and their nutritional efficacy on Wistar rats. For nutritional quality, the parameters measured are dry matter, protein, lipid, ash, carbohydrate, iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and energy content. For antioxidant activity, the parameters measured are 50% DDPH free radical inhibition concentration and total polyphenol content. Nutritional efficacy was evaluated in rats fed the control diet and in rats fed the three treated diets containing eggplant meal obtained by replacing 5%, 10%, and 15% of the control diet. The parameters measured are the amount consumed, the weight of the animal and target organs, and hematologic parameters. The results of the nutritional analysis show the following values: 13.31% protein, 2.66% lipids, 0.84% calcium, 0.12% magnesium, 0.43% phosphorus for the Solanum aethiopicum L. species and 13.47% protein, 3.66% lipids, 0.36% calcium, 0.22% magnesium, 0.35% phosphorus for the Solanum melongena L. species. In terms of antioxidant activity, we obtained DDPH inhibition percentages of 40.28 mg/ml for Solanum aethiopicum L. and 12.42 mg/ml for Solanum melongena L., respectively. Finally, hematologic and anthropometric tests showed that for the different diets used, weight loss and an increase in hematologic parameters were observed in the rats tested. This study showed that eggplant has interesting nutritional characteristics and antioxidant activity, contributing to an increase in weight and anthropometric parameters.

Sustainable Management of Biodegradable Waste in Guinea: Effect of Compost on Eggplant and Chilli Crop Yields Pepper

The fight against insalubrity in large urban and peri-urban agglomerations is a major challenge in developing countries. This problem is compounded by that of sustainable waste management mechanisms. Indeed, the current waste collection system in Guinea has proved inadequate, as moving garbage from point “A” to point “B” is tantamount to “moving the problem”. The aim of this experimental work is to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness and benefits of sustainable waste management. As part of this drive to valorize biodegradable waste, the Waste Management Research Center has undertaken a series of activities ranging from composting organic waste to testing compost on certain crop varieties. An experimental field of 8024 m2 was laid out and treated with 1500 Kg of fine compost in doses ranging from 2.5 to 5 T/ha. Two crop varieties, eggplant and chili, were tested. Compost application increased production yields: 15 to 21 tonnes of eggplant and 10.4 to 11.1 tonnes of chili per hectare. Growth rates compared with usual yields varied from 50% to 64% and from 11% to 17% for eggplant and chili, respectively. This study resulted in an optimum compost dose of 2.5 T/ha for this phase.

Exogenous melatonin improves the chilling tolerance and preharvest fruit shelf life in eggplant by affecting ROS-and senescence-related processes

Low temperature is the most common abiotic stress factors during the eggplant cultivation in solar greenhouses.Melatonin plays important roles in plant resistance to low temperature.However,the role of melatonin in regulating chilling tolerance and extending the preharvest shelf life of eggplant fruits is still unknown.In this study,we investigated the effects of exogenous melatonin on eggplant plants and fruits in response to low temperature.Under simulated low-temperature conditions,exogenous melatonin significantly relieved the chilling symptoms of seedlings by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and relative leakage rates.These reductions were caused by higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and increased endogenous polyamine and melatonin levels compared with those in untreated seedlings.Notably,the expression levels of SOD,CAT1/2,and polyamine synthesis genes (ADC and ODC) were also increased by 100μmol·L~(-1)melatonin,as well as those of genes involved in melatonin synthesis (TDC,T5H,SNAT,ASMT,and COMT) and cold regulation (COR1,CBFa/b,and ZAT2/6/12).To further investigate the effects of melatonin on eggplant leaves and fruits under natural low temperature conditions,100μmol·L~(-1)melatonin was sprayed on the functional leaves at three days before commodity maturation.Melatonin significantly alleviated chilling injury in the leaves and pericarp and extended the preharvest shelf life of the fruit by increasing the expression of COR1,CBF,ZAT2/6/12,and API5 and decreasing the expression of senescence-related genes (NCED1/2 and SAG12).Therefore,100μmol·L~(-1)melatonin improved chilling tolerance and fruit shelf life by upregulating ZAT2/6/12 to affect ROS-and senescence-related processes,which provides a reference for alleviating cold stress and extending the preharvest fruit shelf life in eggplant.

Transcriptome Analysis of a Wild Eggplant Germplasm M239 in Response to Verticillium dahliae Infection

In this study,wild eggplant germplasm No.M239,which is highly susceptible to Verticillium wilt,was used as the experimental material.The physiological and biochemical indices(SOD,PAL,MDA and soluble protein)of M239 roots were measured at different times(0,12,24,36,48,60 and 72 h)post inoculation with Verticillium dahliae,and the key time points for the M239 response to Verticillium wilt infection were screened.Then,RNA-Seq technology was used to screen the differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in M239 roots at 0,12 and 48 h post-inoculation(hpi).The transcriptional results of M239 were also compared with those resistance genes from some reported wild relative Solanum species(S.sisymbriifolium and S.aculeatissimum).Then some DEGs were chosen for validation by qRT–PCR.The results showed that 12 and 48 hpi were the turning points in the changes in all physiological and biochemical indices.A total of 6,783 DEGs were identified by RNA-Seq,including 6,141 DEGs(3,046 upregulated and 3,095 downregulated)at the M_12 h vs.M_0 h,1,903 DEGs(792 upregulated and 1,111 downregulated)at M_48 h vs.M_12 h,and 1,261 DEGs that appeared simultaneously in both stages.KEGG enrichment analysis showed that there were 5 metabolic pathways enriched from DEGs,which were mostly related to primary metabolism,such as glycolysis,amino acid and ribosome biogenesis.Compared with the NCBI non-redundant protein(NR)database,one Ve2 homologous gene and 8 PR protein-related genes were screened.Transcription factor analysis showed that there were a large number of DEGs,such as MYB,AP2-EREBP,bHLH,NAC and Orphans in the two stages.Compared with the reported Verticillium wilt-resistant wild eggplant species,it was found that there were fewer genes and enriched metabolic pathways in the M239 response to Verticillium wilt infection,and it also lacked the response of some known key resistance genes.These results proved that the above resistance genes and metabolic pathways played a key role in the wild eggplant response to V.dahliae infection.

Water Stress Early Detection of Eggplant Plants by Hyperspectral Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Water stress early detection is essential for precision farming to improve crop productivity and product quality. The methods usually used are destructive, long and expensive. In this work, we used hyperspectral chlorophyll fluorescence technology as a rapid, non-destructive approach to detect the water deficiency of eggplant plants using their spectral footprint. So, an experiment was made on 54 eggplant plants subjected to three water treatments: normal irrigation (T100), intermediate irrigation (T50) and no irrigation (T0). The fluorescence spectra were acquired in vivo and in situ using a USB4000 spectrometer from Ocean optics. For the classification of the plants subjected to three water treatments, we used three pretreatments of the raw hyperspectral data in order to suppress the non-informative variability present in these spectra and to obtain robust models. These are the Savitzky-Golay smoothing (SG), the standard normal variable (SNV) and the first derivative of Savitzky-Golay (SG-D1). The preprocessed data were then subjected to two partial least squares discriminant analyses (PLS-DA): Hard PLS-DA and Soft PLS-DA. These statistical approaches are suitable for large samples as it reduces the dimensionality of the data but improves the accuracy of the prediction. The SG-D1 combined with the Soft PLS-DA gave the best discrimination of plants with scores of sensitivity, specificity and total efficiency respectively of 97.33%, 94% and 95% for calibration, 6 days after hydric stress induction. For the plants used for the prediction, the scores are 86%, 91% and 90% respectively. This study shows that hyperspectral chlorophyll fluorescence spectroscopy is a fast and non-destructive technology allowing early detection of water stress in eggplant plants.

Resistance Evaluation of Eggplant Resources to Verticillium wilt in Sichuan Province

[Objective] Aimed to lay a scientific foundation for eggplant resistant breeding, the resistant field identification of eggplant resources to Verticillium wilt was carried out. [Method] Test materials were 35 eggplant resources, which were collected from various places in Sichuan province since 2001. These eggplant resources were made resistance evaluation to Verticillium wilt by watering injured roots with Verticillium dahliae spore suspension. [Result] The eggplant resources had good resistance to Verticillium wilt. Among 35 evaluated resources, 10 resources like 242-9OP, 41-1,35-R5, etc. were resistant, while 23 resources like 68 ×47, Zizaoqie, 32-1, etc. were tolerant. Some resistant resources like 41-1,35-R5, 47-R1, etc. had been transferred into new resistant varieties like EF9910, etc. by breeding institutes. [Conclusion] The resistant level and future resistance breeding direction of eggplant resources in Sichuan were clarified by the resistance evaluation of eggplant resources so as to provide a technical guidance for eggplant resistance breeding.

Seed Germination of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Luba 2 Treated with Hydrogen Peroxide

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the effect of hydrogen peroxide on the seed germination of eggplant （Solanum melongena L.） Luba 2.[Method] The seeds of Luba 2 were separately soaked in 20％,40％,60％ and 80％ hydrogen peroxide solution for 2,5 and 10 min before seed germination.The germination rate and days to reach the maximum germination rate were calculated.[Result] Treatment with low concentrations （20％） of hydrogen peroxide for 2 and 5 min made eggplant Luba 2 germinate in advance,and shortened the time to reach the maximum germination rate.Treatment with high concentrations （60％ and 80％） of hydrogen peroxide solution for longer time （10 min） caused significant damage to the seeds,delayed seed germination,and reduced the germination rate.[Conclusion] This study will provide theoretical references for the production practices of eggplant.

Allelopathy of Aerial Part Extracts from Grafted Eggplants

[ Objective] The aim was to provide evidence and countermeasures for study on allelopathy of eggplant and supply a scientific basis for ecological management of allelopathy and establishment of a reasonable, effective intercropping and continuous cropping system. [ Method] Allelopathy of aerial part extracts from grafted eggplants was studied by bioassay. [ Result] The results showed that aerial part extracts of eggplants have autotoxiclty which inhibited seed germination and seedling growth of eggplants. Aerial part extracts of grafted eggplants inhibited seed germination and seedling growth of tomato, pepper and cu cumber at different level. Inhibition intensity of extracts was in order of tomato 〉 pepper 〉 cucumber. The inhibition effect was higher at 0.2 g/ml concentration than 0.1 g/ml concentration. There wasn＇t significance between ownrooted treatments and grafted treatments. [ Conclusion] Eggplant is not suitable for round of inter-cropping with tomato, pepper and cucumber.

Callus Induction and Cell Suspension Culture of Eggplant(Solanum melongena L.)

[Objective] The aim of this article is to establish a cell suspension culture system for eggplant. [Method] Using orthogonal design, appropriate media were screened for callus induction, subculture and cell suspension culture. [Result] The appropriate medium for callus induction was MS supplemented with 0.2 mg/L 6-BA and 0.2 mg/L NAA; the appropriate subculture medium was MS supplemented with0.2 mg/L 6-BA, 0.2 mg/L NAA, and 0.1 mg/L KT; the suitable medium for cell suspension culture was liquid MS medium supplemented with 0.4 mg/L NAA and 0.2mg/L. Cell growth curve was similar to ＂S＂ shape in the above suspension medium.The cell growth included four phases, the initial phase（1-3 d）, the logarithmic phase（3-7 d）, the steady phase（7-8 d）, and the decline phase（8-11 d）. With the increasing culture time, the number of suspension cells increased, and it reached the maximum value at the 7thd, about 3.8 ×105cells/ml. Then the number of cells began to decline rapidly. The cell vigor was the highest at the initial phase. Suspension cells grew best in the liquid MS medium supplemented with NAA（0.4 mg/L）and 6-BA（0.2 mg/L）. The mitotic index reached the maximum, about 4.1% in the above medium, which suggested that this medium was suitable for cell suspension culture of eggplant. [Conclusion] Cell suspension culture system of eggplant provides a significant method for eggplant biotechnology. Genetic transformation and mutants screening can be carried out with this system.

Water and Fertilizer Coupling Model for the Yield of Greenhouse Eggplant in Winter Cropped in Ningxia Southern Mountain Region

[Objective] The research aimed to study the coupling model of water and fertilizer for the yield of winter eggplant in greenhouse in Ningxia southern mountain region and provide reference for the criteria and cost-saving cultivation of agriculture vegetables in Ningxia southern mountain region.[Method] By using quadratic general rotary unitized design,the mathematics simulation was made on the main cultivation factors(irrigated amount,N application amount,K application amount)that affected the greenhouse eg...

Functional Characterization of SmbHLH13 in Anthocyanin Biosynthesis and Flowering in Eggplant

Anthocyanin is abundant in a few vegetables,including eggplant.It protects plants from abiotic stress and benefits human health,making the research of anthocyanin biosynthesis increasingly important.Flowering time is an important reference for judging reproduction and adaptability,which can guide plant production.In this study,SmbHLH13 from eggplant was identified.Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays showed that SmbHLH13 binded and activated the expression of structural genes SmCHS and SmF3H in anthocyanin biosynthesis and it also was bound to the promoter of the key gene SmFT in flowering.Furthermore,genetic transformation of Arabidopsis revealed that overexpression of SmbHLH13 enhanced anthocyanin accumulation and delayed flowering.These results demonstrated that SmbHLH13 might promote anthocyanin accumulation through positive regulation of SmCHS and SmF3H.Moreover,SmbHLH13 might have a role in delaying eggplant flowering.

Intralesion and Curaderm^BEC5Topical Combination Therapies of Solasodine Rhamnosyl Glycosides Derived from the Eggplant or Devil’s Apple Result in Rapid Removal of Large Skin Cancers. Methods of Treatment Compared

Solasodine rhamnosyl glycosides (SRGs) are chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer. SRGs in a cream formulation, CuradermBEC5, is very effective for the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancers with excellent cosmetic end results. Intralesion injection of SRGs successfully dispose of very large tumours in animals without any clinical adverse effects. The mode of action of SRGs is by apoptosis. In this study, it is shown that small to large basal cell carcinomas are effectively treated only with topical application of CuradermBEC5. Here it is reported for the first time that combination of intralesion SRG injection and topical application with CuradermBEC5 in humans reduces the treatment time period by more than half when compared with topical application as the sole treatment regime. Two intralesion injections of very low doses of SRGs rapidly and effectively remove a large melanoma on a horse. If rapid removal of large troublesome skin cancers is required then this can be achieved by intralesion and topical treatments. Intralesion or combination therapy with SRGs may have some applications for melanomas in situ such as lentigo maligna.

AFLP and SCAR Markers Associated with Peel Color in Eggplant (Solanum melongena)

Peel color is an important breeding objective for eggplant. Dark purple and purplish red are the most common colors in commercial eggplant cultivars. A co-dominant amplified fragment length polymorphism （AFLP） marker which was associated with the peel color （each in coupling phase to dark purple and purplish red） was found in studying the genetic diversity in 58 eggplant accessions （contained cultivars and wild relatives）. The maker bands were sequenced and converted to SCAR marker, this polymorphism in sequence was from an inserted/deleted （indels） mutation. And DNA from 136 eggplant materials （inbred lines, F1, and wild relatives） were amplified with the designed SCAR primers as template, high correlation between the SCAR marker and peel color （dark purple and purplish red） was found. Then, bulked line analysis （BLA） combined with AFLP was further used to identify polymorphic fragments, and another six AFLP markers were tested and verified to be associated with peel color, which demonstrated that BLA was an useful method for identifying molecular markers of interested traits. In conclusion, these markers will facilitate the MAS （maker-assisted selection） of eggplant breeding for peel color.

Analysis of Vitamin P Content and Inheritance Models in Eggplant

The eggplant(Solanum melongena L.)is rich in vitamin P(also known as rutin),which is beneficial for humans.In this study,the vitamin P contents of 53 eggplant lines were measured via UV spectrophotometry.The results showed that the vitamin P content differed significantly among the eggplant lines and the actual contents of vitamin P in fresh fruit pulp and fresh peel were 0.18–0.82mg·g^−1 and 0.42–2.32mg·g^−1,respectively.Furthermore,themixed major gene and polygene inheritance modelmethod was used for the inheritance analysis of the vitamin P content in F2 populations of three hybridization combinations.Inheritance analysis demonstrated that the vitamin P content of these eggplant lines was a quantitative trait.One or two major genes were the contributor,and the genetic effect was an additive-dominance effect.The high vitamin P content trait was regulated by the main gene and followed an additive effect.The heritability of the major genes controlling the high vitamin P content was low,while the heritability of the major gene that controls the low vitamin P content trait was high.These results provide a theoretical basis for the breeding of eggplants with high vitamin P content.

Effects of Calcium and Calmodulin Antagonist on Antioxidant Systems of Eggplant Seedlings Under High Temperature Stress

Ca2+ and calmodulin antagonist [trifluoperazine(TFP),N-(6-aminohexyl-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W7)] pretreatments were conducted on two eggplant varieties Nongyouqie andErmingqie, which have different heat resistance. The results showed that under 40C(day/night), Ca2+ immersion pretreatment enabled the eggplant seedlings to keep relatively higheractivities of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and peroxidase(POD), reduced the production rate ofsuperoxide anion O2_ and the content of malondialdehyde(MDA), alleviated the damage of reducedglutathione(GSH) and the accumulation of proline (Pro), whereas calmodulin antagonist TFP andW7 immersion pretreatments could lead to more rapid loss of SOD and POD activities, increasethe contents of MDA, Pro and production rate of O2_, aggravate the damage of GSH. Under the samestress condition, heat-resistant variety Nongyouqie was less injured compared to the heat-sensitive variety Erminqie. These data indicated that Ca2+-CaM signal transduction systemmight regulate the heat resistance of eggplant seedlings by controlling the activity of someantioxidant enzymes and the contents of antioxidant substance.

基于Eggplant的Mac OS X平台上软件自动测试

Mac OS X tiger平台上的应用软件需要进行自动化的测试。Eggplant是Mac OS X平台上的一种自动测试工具。文中主要介绍了这个工具和运用此工具设计一个应用软件的版本验证测试。最后实现了这个设计的部分并表明此工具是一个便捷有效的自动测试工具。

Effects of Humic Acid and Bread Yeast on Growth and Yield of Eggplant （Solanum melongena L.）

This study was carried out at the vegetable research field, College of Agriculture, University of Duhok, during the growing season of 2009 using the eggplant local cultivar. And a factorial Randomized complete block design （F-RCBD）. The experiment consisted of two factors, the first was inoculations with and without humic acid, and the second factor was three levels of dry bread yeast （0.5, 10 gm/L）. The results revealed that the growth was significantly increased in term of plant height, branches number%, total chlorophyll and mineral content in leaves （N.P.K） and the yield in term of fruit number/plant, fruit weight （gm）, plant yield （gm/plant）, total yield （ton/hectare）, fruit length and fruit diameter. The interaction between humic acid and bread yeast was highly improved the growth and yield traits.

Pollen Germination in vitro and Pollen Storage of the Eggplant(Solanummelongena L.)

The eggplant (Solanummelongena L.) is widely cultivated across the world.Technology regarding the in vitro germination and preservation of eggplant pollen is important for the production of hybrid seeds.In this work,the suitable cultural medium and time for the germination of fresh and dried pollen was investigated.The results showed that a suitable medium for eggplant pollen germination was 0.5% agar+5% sucrose+0.01% boric acid+0.01% GA3,the suitable culture time was 2 h for fresh pollen and 4 h for dried pollen stored at low temperature.GA3 could induce the germination of dried and stored pollen. The better way to dry anthers was 4 h in a desiccator at 25~30℃.We also found that pollen from the second to the fourth branch has the highest germination rate. Furthermore,there were no significant differences in the seed setting rates among the different storage temperatures and storage times,whereas the number of viable seeds formed per fruit differed significantly,which was 87.3% more for pollen stored at -80℃ and fresh pollen than that stored at 4℃.This work optimized pollen storage conditions and is helpful to eggplant hybrid seed production.

Characterization of African Eggplant for Morphological Characteristics

Systematic characterization of available crop varieties using morphological traits is needed to fuel breeders＇ efforts in African eggplant. Twenty-eight accessions of African eggplant from three species of Solanum aethiopicum （16）, Solanum macrocarpon （9） and Solanum anguivi （3） were characterized using standard morphological descriptors. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design （RCBD） with three replications. The results indicated distinct and wide variations between the three Solanum species studied. There were however a lot of similarities between the S. aethiopicum and S. anguivi lines. This suggests the two materials being closer to each other than they are to the S. macrocarpon.

Aloe vera Coating Efficiency on Shelf Life of Eggplants at Differential Storage Temperatures

The core objective of instant study was to check the effectiveness of Aloe vera edible coating on postharvest life and physicochemical characteristics of eggplants under different storage temperatures. For this purpose, different formulations of Aloe vera based coating （non-poisonous） was applied at concentration of 0, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.0%, respectively on eggplants. The coated eggplants were stored at two different temperatures [10℃ and （30±2）℃] and examined for weight loss, firmness, stem color, shriveling, total soluble solids, pH, acidity, vitamin C, sugar （total sugar, reducing sugar and non-reducing sugar） and N, P, K, Ca and Na for two weeks. The obtained results showed that weight loss, shriveling, total soluble solids, pH, sugar （total sugar and non-reducing sugar） increased and firmness, stem color, acidity, reducing sugar, vitamin C minimized during the storage period. The 0.5% Aloe coating at 10℃ showed significant effect and delayed the changes in above parameters. Aloe vera coating remained almost ineffective in altering nutrient homeostasis （N, P, K, Ca and Na） of eggplants. The optimistic results gained in the current study could additionally investigate in larger market experiments and also could extensive to other tropical/subtropical fruits and vegetables.