David-Rogeat, Noémie
(2024)
The growth and nutritional quality of the African eggplant under abiotic stress.
PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.
Abstract
The African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.), a popular indigenous vegetable, is well-suited to local environments, highly nutritious, and has lower water and fertiliser requirements than its close Solanum relatives such as the brinjal eggplant or tomato. It might offer a solution to the growing threat of food insecurity arising from the increasing frequency and severity of environmental stresses worldwide, particularly in Africa. However, research on the African eggplant’s tolerance to abiotic stress is lacking, limiting its full potential.
The primary aim of this project was to investigate how the African eggplant responds to drought, salinity, and heat, both individually and in combination. Conducted in the UK between 2020 and 2023 using controlled environments and glasshouses, the studies examined morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses of the African eggplant at different growth stages. Data collection was performed on potted plants throughout their growth and analyses were conducted on leaves and fruits in the laboratory.
When comparing four cultivars under salinity or drought, similar responses suggested shared response pathways for the cultivars used. Group differences were noted, however, with heat waves being well tolerated by a Shum cultivar during the vegetative stage while a reduction in leaf production was observed in a Kumba cultivar at a lower temperature. Combining heat stress with salinity or drought generally resulted in one stressor being predominant. In contrast, an additive effect of salinity and drought was observed for most of the recorded characteristics, causing significant plant damage. Biostimulants from the UK did not effectively mitigate these damages, limiting their applicability as a quick and short-term solution in the field.
The outputs of this PhD project agree with the use of the African eggplant in regions prone to heat stress, especially for cultivars from the Shum group. While no specific soil salinity threshold was established, the research uncovered some tolerance pathways, such as enhanced potassium uptake and quick assimilation rate recovery, valuable for researchers focusing on salinity tolerance. The knowledge generated is also relevant for breeders to provide different ways for testing tolerance, a key trait in newly developed seeds.
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