Variation in Floral Morphology, Fruit Set and Seed Quality of Garden Egg (Solanum Aethiopicum Var Gilo) Germplasm in Ghana

Abstract

Two field experiments and a laboratory experiment were conducted at the University of Ghana, Farm, Legon and the Department of Crop Science respectively between June 2012 and May 2013 to determine the variation in floral morphology, fruit set and seed quality of twelve garden egg accessions. A randomized complete block design was used for the field experiments while a completely randomized design was used for the laboratory experiment. Data were collected on vegetative, reproductive, yield and seed characteristics. Results showed that garden egg flowers among the accessions were either solitary (single) or clustered (two or more flowers) with the stigma protruding either above (long styled flower), on the same level (medium styled flower) or below (short styled flower) the anther tips. Variations were observed among and within flowers of the same accessions. Flower number per inflorescence also varied within individual accessions as well as among accessions. Flower drop was very low in the solitary flowering type but was significantly high in the clustered flowering type. The fruit characteristics observed among accessions varied considerably in size, shape, immature fruit colour and fruit surface [characteristics of fruit wall (exocarp)] in both field experiments. Fruit colour (exocarp) among accessions varied from white to green to various combinations of green and white. Significant (p˂0.05) differences among accessions were observed for fruit weight, fruit length and diameter. Fruit set from long and medium styled flowers contained a higher number of seeds per fruit compared to fruit set from the short styled flowers. The latter contained about 50% less seeds on average compared to the former. There were significant (p˂0.05) differences among accessions for the number of whole seeds per fruit and the germination percentage. Although the 100 seed weight was statistically significant (p˂0.05) for the different accessions, those with the mixed type of inflorescence showed no significant differences. Results showed that fruit set in garden egg was not directly related to the stigma position in relation to the anther tip. However, seed content was positively influenced by the stigma position in relation to the anther tip.