Genetic Engineering of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.): Progress, Controversy and Potential

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is the third most important vegetable in Asia and of considerable importance Mediterranean belt. Although global eggplant production has been increasing recent years, productivity limited due to insects, diseases, abiotic stresses. Genetic engineering offers new traits eggplant, such as seedless parthenocarpic fruits, varieties adapted extreme climatic events (i.e., sub- or supra-optimal temperatures), transcription factor regulation, overexpressing osmolytes, antimicrobial peptides, Bacillusthuringiensis (Bt) endotoxins, etc. Such either do not occur naturally are difficult incorporate by conventional breeding. With controversies, Bt-expressing resistant fruit shoot borers have already adopted for commercial cultivation Bangladesh. However, maximize benefits transgenic technology, future studies should emphasize testing plants under conditions that mimic field focus on plant’s reproductive stage. In addition, availability whole genome sequence, along with an efficient vitro regeneration system suitable morphological features, would make alternative model plant which study different aspects biology near future.