Ethyl Methanesulphonate (EMS)-Mediated Mutagenesis Induces Genetic and Morphological Variations in Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is a vegetable that holds high economic and nutritional value renowned for its distinct shape, color flavor. There has been considerable focus on enhancing the genetic makeup of eggplant, with specific attention given to breeding better agronomic characteristics. However, crop suffers from narrow base. As part efforts broaden gene pool chemical mutagenesis approach employed, aimed generate eggplant genotypes distinctive Altogether 180 seeds cultivar, Surya was treated EMS at 0.7% v/v concentration. In development M2 generation, members 16 families were inspected phenotypic variation. Notable variations observed in traits such as plant height, leaf, flower fruit morphologies. Furthermore, subset mutants selected screen any DNA alterations few targeted genes belonging Flowering Locus T/Terminal Flower 1 (FT/TFL1) family, via amplicon sequencing performed using Pacbio RSII. A mutant sample discovered carry heterozygous mutation upstream region coding sequence one those particular genes. Taken together, developed here represent valuable resources can be explored functional analysis future programs eggplant.