University of Georgia Department of HorticultureUniversity of Georgia Department of Horticulture
William Terry Kelley - Extension Horticulturist
Ten commercially available eggplant varieties were compared in a spring-planted test at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station (elev. 382 feet) in Tifton, Georgia.
Transplants were commercially grown at Lewis-Taylor plant farm near Tifton in 220-cell polystyrene trays. Normal cultural practices for transplant production were used.
Eggplants were transplanted on 29 May, 1996 into black plastic mulch. The soil, a Tifton Sandy Loam, had been treated with methyl bromide at the time plastic was installed.
Plots consisted of single rows of 18 feet in length with plants spaced approximately 1½ feet apart. Two rows were planted on each of the beds which were 72 inches apart (center to center). The planting was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications.
Normal cultural practices were used for eggplant culture in Georgia. Preplant fertilizer included 1000# per acre of 10-10-10. Subsequent applications were made through the drip irrigation system and resulted in a total of 180# N, 180# K and 100# P per acre. Fungicide and insecticide applications were made according to Extension recommendations.
Eggplants were harvested at maturity three times from 21 July to 12 August. Fruit were graded into four grades and data collected on yield by grade, fruit dimensions, fruit shape, color, uniformity and smoothness.
Black Beauty - Open pollinated, fresh market, 66 days from transplant, bush-type plant, tolerant to tobacco mosaic virus.
Casper - Open pollinated, 70 days from transplant, white cylindrical, specialty/fresh market.
Classic - 76 days from transplant, upright plant, not adapted to cool winter growing regions.
Epic - Fresh market, 64 days from transplant, tolerant to tobacco mosaic virus, upright plants.
Ghostbuster - Broad, vigorous plant, white skinned, 80 days from transplant, pick early before fruit turn yellow.
Ichiban - Oriental type, 61 days from transplant, fresh/specialty market.
Italienne Pink Bicolor - Open pollinated, 75 days from transplanting.
Rosita - Salad bars/Asian markets, 68 days from transplant.
Santana - White flesh, 80 days from transplant, upright plant, few spines.
Snowy -White flesh, early maturing, speciality market type.
Total yields were fairly similar within variety types; however, fancy yields varied considerably. Santana was the highest yielder among traditional types; Rosita produced a large yield of fancy fruit among pink types. Ghostbuster was the high yielder among white types. Yields overall may have been higher with a longer harvest season.
| Table 1. Yield of 10 commercial eggplant cultivars at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station at Tifton, Georgia, in 1996. | |||||||||
| Variety | Source | Fancy Yield/Acre | U.S. #1 Yield/Acre | Total Yield/Acre | Percent Marketable |
Avg. Fancy (grams) |
|||
| 33#-Boxes | CWT | 33#-Boxes | CWT | 33#-Boxes | CWT | ||||
| Black Beauty | Midwest | 79 | 25.9 | 146 | 48.1 | 501 | 165.4 | 85.3 | 369 |
| Casper | Stokes | 144 | 47.5 | 149 | 49.1 | 402 | 132.7 | 93.5 | 169 |
| Classic | Harris | 146 | 48.3 | 148 | 48.8 | 489 | 161.3 | 92.3 | 405 |
| Epic | Twilley | 192 | 63.3 | 134 | 44.1 | 549 | 181.3 | 92.5 | 357 |
| Ghost- buster |
Harris | 176 | 58.0 | 179 | 59.0 | 585 | 193.0 | 93.5 | 267 |
| Ichiban | Midwest | 166 | 54.9 | 99 | 32.6 | 533 | 175.8 | 89.3 | 218 |
| It. Pink Bicol. | Stokes | 57 | 19.0 | 45 | 15.0 | 315 | 103.8 | 81.5 | 352 |
| Rosita | Stokes | 257 | 84.7 | 182 | 60.0 | 682 | 224.9 | 92.0 | 318 |
| Santana | Rogers | 253 | 83.6 | 209 | 68.9 | 601 | 198.3 | 87.5 | 389 |
| Snowy | Ferry-Morse | 112 | 36.9 | 168 | 55.4 | 513 | 169.3 | 84.0 | 177 |
| Mean of Test | 158 | 52.2 | 146 | 48.1 | 517 | 170.6 | 89.2 | 302 | |
| L.S.D. (0.05) | 115 | 38.1 | 89 | 29.2 | 207 | 68.3 | 10.2 | 71.5 | |
| C.V. (%) | 50.3 | 50.3 | 41.9 | 41.9 | 27.6 | 27.6 | 7.8 | 16.3 | |
| Table 2. Fruit characteristics of 10 commercial eggplant cultivars at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station at Tifton, Georgia, in 1996. | ||||||||
| Variety | Source | Fruit Length | Fruit Diameter | Fruit1 Shape |
Fruit2 Color |
Fruit3 Uniformity |
Color4 Uniformity |
Fruit5 Smoothness |
| (cm) | (cm) | |||||||
| Black Beauty | Midwest | 15.46 | 7.47 | 2.5 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 4.1 |
| Casper | Stokes | 17.16 | 5.03 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 |
| Classic | Harris | 17.19 | 7.92 | 2.9 | 6.7 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 4.5 |
| Epic | Twilley | 17.11 | 7.73 | 2.5 | 6.5 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| Ghostbuster | Harris | 15.06 | 7.10 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.2 |
| Ichiban | Midwest | 25.32 | 4.63 | 1.0 | 5.1 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 3.7 |
| It. Pink Bicol. | Stokes | 12.70 | 10.08 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.9 |
| Rosita | Stokes | 18.36 | 6.56 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.3 |
| Santana | Rogers | 16.27 | 8.82 | 3.0 | 7.0 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Snowy | Ferry-Morse | 16.34 | 5.27 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| Mean of Test | 17.10 | 7.06 | 2.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.3 | |
| L.S.D. (0.05) | 3.29 | 1.22 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | |
| C.V. (%) | 1328 | 11.90 | 21.0 | 21.6 | 11.1 | 10.0 | 12.2 | |
| 1Fruit Shape based on scale: 1=cylindrical, 2=oval, 3=teardrop, 4=round. 2Fruit Color based on scale: 1=white, 2=lavender with white, 3=lavender, 4=black with some white, 5=purple/black, 6=black, 7=glossy black. 3Fruit Uniformity based on scale: 1=rough, warty skin, to 5=very smooth. |
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