Evaluating Promising New Eggplant Varieties for Commercialization

Sugano, Fukuda, Uyeda, Radovich, Shimabuku, Migita, Shingaki, Corrales, Motomura, Kawabata, Wang, Sato, Ng & Coppess

University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources

Cooperative Extension Service November 14, 2014

Identifying Suitable Eggplant Hybrids for Commercialization • Finding suitable varieties for Hawaii’s unique growing conditions is critical. • Evaluation and selection of new crop varieties tolerant to new and reoccurring pest and

diseases enable growers to manage pest and diseases in an environmentally friendly manner while minimizing costly crop protection chemical inputs.

• Increased access to online local, national and international seed companies has now generated an influx of promising vegetable cultivars into Hawaii.

o However, new pathogens have made its way into the state through these portals.

o This poses a great threat to Hawaii’s diversified agriculture sector. • Commercial growers rely on seeds produced through ADSC for their commercial

operations in Hawaii. This project provides an opportunity to develop and expand ADSC’s Seed Program to include new promising varieties best suited to Hawaii’s unique environmental conditions as well as provides an opportunity for us to expand our organic seed sector in CTAHR.

Project objective: Finalize the commercialization of 2-3 long eggplant varieties (convention and organic culture) for marketing and sale through UH CTAHR’s ADSC Seed Lab

• This project aims to complete the 5 year commercialization process in identifying and commercializing 2-3 new and promising long eggplant (Solanum melongena) cultivars (organic and conventional) preferred by many Hawaii’s growers and consumers.

• Variety trials were conducted in 2008 and 2013 utilized a randomized complete block design with 4 reps at the Poamoho and Waimanalo Research Stations under conventional and certified organic management. Commercial eggplant varieties with potential for commercialization include new eggplant hybrids developed by Dr. Kenneth Takeda, emeritus CTAHR horticulturalist, and Susan Migita, station manager of the Poamoho Research Station.

• The promising 200 series numbered cultivars were selections made by Dr. Kenneth Takeda. Hybridization or cross breeding work was conducted by Susan Migita. The 2013 field screening data shows new eggplant hybrids developed by Takeda and Migita have promise as new commercial cultivars in Hawaii.

• Additional statewide field work was necessary to evaluate statewide crop production

suitability, shelf life issues, and producer /consumer preferences to expand on the promising horticultural characteristics of long eggplant varieties at CTAHR.

• Supplemental funds obtained via CTAHR was secured in 2013 to evaluate its commercialization potential.

2013 Refer to Hanai’ai article for more information

Statewide Assessments 2013-2014: • Oahu, Maui, & Hawaii (7 sites). Molokai (2015) • Upper / Lower Elevation • Conventional / Organic Cultivation • Staked vs non Staked Propagation • Seed vs. Cutting Propagation

Poamoho Research Station: 800’ above SL Kahuku, Oahu: Commercial operation-hybrids only

Maui Extension Office: Sea level Kula Ag Station& Ag Park: 1300’-3100’ above SL

Waimanalo Research Station: Organic Culture, Hybrids and Heirloom varieties

Hilo Extension Office: Organic / Cutting Culture

Laie, Oahu: Limited selection.

Original Parental Lines

Molokai (Male parent) / Waimanalo (Male parent) / Nitta (Female parent)

Current CTAHR Hybrids for Commercial Sale

Molokai x Nitta Waimanalo x Nitta

Hybrid Lines Being Considered for Conventional & Organic Seed

Possible heirloom, organic lines

Nitta Green

Tolentino Hamasaki

Summary of Data from Statewide Trials (September 2014) POAMOHO: New hybrids (201, 210 & 204 x N, Tol, and Tol x N) are out performing the current industry standard & parental lines. Do we need to hybridize Tolentino?

198.2190.4

179.0

162.9156.1 150.7 150.0

142.6

120.1 118.1 117.6 115.7101.6

62.055.1

42.9

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

200.0

250.0

201 XN

WAI XN

(TOL)

TOL 204 XN

MO XN

(TOL)

TOL XN

210 XN

MO XN

WAI XN (TAI)

204 201 210 WAI XN

NITTA WAI MO

TOTA

L YI

ELD

(LBS

)

VARIETIES

POAMOHO 4 MONTH DATA: GRADE A

HYBRID VIGOR

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

200.0

250.0

201 X N TOL 204 X N TOL X N 210 X N

TOTA

L W

EIGH

T (L

BS) ALL PROPOSED VARIETIES HAVE POTENTIAL

POAMOHO NEW LINES: GRADE A

PARENTAL LINES

INDUSTRY STANDARD

0100200300400500600700800

Num

ber o

f Fru

it

POAMOHO: TOTAL NUMBER OF FRUIT

Grade A Grade B

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

200.0

250.0

300.0

MO XN

(TOL)

WAI XN

(TOL)

MO XN

204 XN

WAI XN

WAI XN (TAI)

201 XN

210 XN

204.0 TOL TOL XN

NITTA 210.0 MO 201.0 WAI

TOTA

L YI

ELD

(LBS

)

POAMOHO: 4 MONTH DATA GRADE B AND OFF GRADES

GRADE B OFF GRADE

** POAMOHO NOTES: There is a need to devote additional time and resources into maintaining the parental lines to retain its key horticultural characteristics. Three different Nitta parental lines yielded varying results: Wai x N (Nitta parent from W. Tolentino), Wai x N (Nitta parent from Poamoho), and Wai X N (Taiwan produced hybrid). KAHUKU, OAHU: ON FARM TOL X N, 201 X N AND 210 X N DID SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN INDSTRY STANDARDS

0

50

100

150

200

250

204 X N 201 X N 210 X N TOL TOL X N

TOTA

L W

EIGH

T (L

BS)

POAMOHO 4 MONTH DATA: GRADE B AND OFF GRADES

GRADE B OFF GRADE

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

Tol x N 210 x N 201 x N Mo x N 204 x N Wai x N (Tol) Wai X N (TAI)

TOTA

L YI

ELD

(LBS

)/ P

LAN

T

KAHUKU 4/28/14-5/19/14 REVIEW

GRADE A (LBS) GRADE B (LBS) OFF GRADE (LBS)

KAHUKU NOTES: New hybrids are out performing industry standard lines. Taiwan produced WAI x N did the poorest at the Kahuku site. WAIMANALO Research Station (organic) data: June-August 2014

Yiel

d (K

g/pl

ant)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

WAIMANALO NOTES: Waimanalo organic eggplant transplanted in April, Harvests every 2-3 weeks. Three replications. One ton of tankage per acre preplant. WAI x N out performed new hybrid lines under organic culture. Hamasaki line should be explored further. Taiwan produced WAI X N did not do as well as the WAI X N line. Maui & Hilo (organic cuttings) data still pending

HAM

ASA

KI

Wai

XN (T

AI)

Wai

x N

(PO

A)

A

B BC BC

CD CD CD D D D

201

X N

MO

X N

nlon

g

201

X N

204

x N

TOL

x N

uhlo

ng

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

201 x N 204 X N 210 x N MO X N WAI X N TOL X N

Average Fruit Count / PlantMaui Ag Park: 4/23/14-7/30/14

(A) FruitCount

(B) FruitCount

(Offgrade) FruitCount

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

201 x N 204 X N 210 x N MO X N WAI X N TOL X N

Average Plant Yield/ Plant (oz) Maui Ag Park: 4/23/14-7/30/14

Average (A) FruitWeight (oz)

Average(B) FruitWeight (oz)

Average (O) FruitWeight (oz)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

201 x N 204 X N 210 x N MO X N WAI X N TOL X N

Average Plant Yield/ Plant (oz) Maui Ag Park: 4/23/14-7/30/14

Average (A) FruitWeight (oz)

Average(B) FruitWeight (oz)

0

100

200

300

400

201 x N 204 X N 210 x N MO X N WAI X N TOL X N

Average Yield / PlantKahului: 4/16/14-7/30/14

Average (A) FruitWeight (oz)

Average(B) FruitWeight (oz)

2014 Hilo MG Extension Cuttings Project: Unique challenge due to a lack of available seed Typical method of propagation: Seed

0200400600800

100012001400

201 x N 204 X N 210 x N MO X N WAI X N TOL X N

Average Fruit Count / PlantKahului: 4/16/14-7/30/14

(A) FruitCount

(B) FruitCount

(Offgrade) FruitCount

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

201 x N 204 X N 210 x N MO X N WAI X N TOL X N

Average Yield / PlantKahului: 4/16/14-7/30/14

Average (A) FruitWeight (oz)

Average(B) FruitWeight (oz)

Average (O) FruitWeight (oz)

Mahalo to Sharon Motomura, Andrew Kawabata and Hilo MG for taking on this project. Non-typical method of propagation: Cuttings (see handout)

Reminder, the use of vegetable cuttings for commercial production systems was a temporary replacement due to the unavailability of seed. Additional work is needed to evaluate: 1) effect /

labor of plucking off early flowers, 2) yield comparisons of cuttings vs seedlings, and 3) impact of repetitious vegetative cuttings. Summary: Program investigators are working with the ADSC Seed Lab program to commercialize new eggplant hybrid varieties once statewide field trials are completed. Commercial eggplant sales via ADSC generates income to UH CTAHR every year. ADSC has an established commercial partnership with Known You Seed Company (to scale up seed volume) and new hybrid lines from CTAHR could result in increased sales and royalties. 2017 Update: Tolentino, Hamasaki and 210 are currently being grown for commercial seed at UH CTAHR. Parental issues with Nitta x Waimanalo have been rectified and hybrids have been re-released for commercial sales.