General
- Eggplant is a
frost-intolerant perennial grown as an annual. The purplish-black
color of the immature fruit is a result of anthocyanin in the sub
epidermal cells. Fruit types are varied, including a small 'green
grape' eggplant from Thailand; 'Easter-egg' types with variously
colored fruits on a single plant; Italian 'bella' types with delicate
pink and white shading on round fruits; the standard commercial type
with black three-pound fruits and the increasingly popular, slim,
purple-black 'Japanese' or oriental types. .
- Shapes vary from
round to almost breadstick shaped, and color variations include white,
red, green, purple, pink, and glossy solid black. Eggplant is one of
the most heat-loving of the vegetables normally grown in the temperate
zone and requires a frost-free period of 100 to 140 days. Optimal
daytime temperatures are 75 to 85 degrees F and optimal night
temperatures are 65 to 76 degrees F. It is even more sensitive to cold
than tomatoes or peppers and will be injured by temperatures below 65
degrees F.
Production
-
Environmental factors are important in the
production of eggplant seed. The same climatic factors that influence
the cultivation of eggplant as a market vegetable also act on seed
production. Eggplant is a warm season crop. It requires a long and
warm growing season for successful production. It
more susceptible to lower temperatures than tomato and pepper.
-
A day temperature of 25–32 °C and a night
temperature of 21–27 °C are ideal for plant growth and fruit
development. Comparatively a hardy crop, it can tolerate drought and
heavy rainfall. However, it is advisable to select a dry climate
or at least a season with a low air humidity, which is courage fruit
rot and other diseases. Furthermore, good soil and adequate
fertilization are essential. Eggplant can be grown on different
kinds of soil but does best on well-drained silt loams or clay loams
with a pH of 5.5–6.5.
Technology
-
Eggplant grafting technology, first developed by
the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center in Taiwan is
being transferred to farmers through a collaborative effort between
the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute , Phil Rice in the
Philippines, CARE-Bangladesh, an NGO.
-
The Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council
is the apex “grafting” is revolutionizing the business of
producing eggplants. Grafting technology is being used to control the
devastating soil borne disease of eggplant known as “bacterial wilt”.
Vegetable Integrated Pest Management technologies developed by the IPM
CRSP in Bangladesh and adopted by Bangladeshi farmers have proven
highly successful.
Market
-
Fresh market options for Kentucky-grown eggplant
include wholesale markets, cooperatives, farmers’ markets and roadside
stands. Sales to local retail markets, such as supermarkets, are also
an option. Very small volumes of eggplants are sold through farmers’
markets and cooperatives in Kentucky.
U.S. Fancy consists of eggplants of similar
varietals characteristics, which are well colored, firm, clean, well
shaped, and which are free from decay and worm holes and free from
injury caused by scars, freezing, disease, insects, or mechanical or
other means. The size of eggplants may be specified in terms of count,
minimum diameter, or a range in diameter in the container. Eggplants
packed as U.S. Fancy or U.S. No. 1 grade shall be reasonably uniform
in size, except when a range in diameter is specified.
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