Evaluation of three sets of advanced backcrosses of eggplant with wild relatives from different genepools under low N fertilization conditions

Abstract The development of new cultivars with improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is key for implementing sustainable agriculture practices. Crop wild relatives (CWRs) provide valuable genetic resources breeding programs aimed at achieving this goal. In study, three eggplant (Solanum melongena) accessions together their advanced backcrosses (ABs; BC3 to BC5 generations) were evaluated 22 morpho-agronomic, physiological, and N traits under low fertilization conditions. ABs developed introgressions from the S. insanum, dasyphyllum, elaeagnifolium. AB population comprised a total 25, 59, 59 genotypes, respectively, overall donor relative genome coverage percentages 58.8%, 46.3%, 99.2%. melongena recurrent parents also control (normal) fertilization. Reduction in resulted decreased chlorophyll content-related traits, aerial biomass, stem diameter yield, increased NUE, uptake (NUpE), utilization (NUtE). However, decrease yield was moderate, ranging between 62.6% 72.6%. A high phenotypic variation observed within each sets conditions, some individuals displaying transgressive characteristics over parents. Using SPET 5k probes platform high-throughput genotyping, we variable but degree parent recovery attributable lines recombination, allowing successful identification 16 QTLs. Different allelic effects introgressed QTL alleles. Several candidate genes identified regions associated plant growth, fruit size, NUE-related parameters. Our results show that materials CWRs can result dramatic impact more agriculture.