Path analysis in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Eggplants are of great importance in the Colombian Caribbean Coast for food sucurity, income and employment, health benefits and large export potential, but most of the genotypes planted are landraces and poorly bred. In Colombia no reportes about path analysis to improve selection for eggplant breeding exist. Twenty-four eggplant genotypes from different geographical origin were studied in the Corpoicas Research Center Turipaná (Cereté – Colombia), using a complete randomized block design with three replicates, with the objetive to determine the direct and indirect effects of yield components on the fruit production. The path analysis revealed that the number of fruits per plant, followed by fruit weight have a direct signifficant effect on fruit yield. Therefore, the simultaneous breeding of eggplant must considers these two characters as a physiological limit.