Solanum melongena (Aubergine, Brinjal, Eggplant)

Solanum melongena is the scientific taxonomic name for Aubergine, Brinjal and Eggplant. It is known as Aubergine in the United Kingdom, Brinjal in Malaysia and Singapore, and Eggplants in the USA. This plant is widely cultivated throughout the world particularly in the tropical and subtropical climates. Its optimum growth temperature is 25 to 32 degree Celcius. It is a woody parennial shrubs that originated from the New World, the land of origin of all the "Night Shade" family, taxonomically known as Solanaceae Family. Other commonly known members of this family includes Potato (Solanum tuberosum), Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annum), Bird Eyes Chili (Capsicum frutescen) Chili Pepper (Capsicum chinensis), Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum), Cape Gooseberry (Physallis peruviana), Pepino (Solanum muricatum), Petunia (Petunia multiflora), Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), Moonflowers (Datura) and Angel's trumpet (Brugmansia) and many other species. All the members of the "Night Shade" family are susceptible to the same pathogens and soil borne diseases. But some cultivars are more resistant and tolerant than others. The wild species are generally more virgorous compared to the domesticated species.

Solanum melongena has many varieties, botanically known as cultivars. Some cultivars bear white, purple, yellow or dark coloured fruits. In the Far East and South East Asia, the most popular cultivar is the variety bearing cylindrical fruits measuring approximately 30cm or more and the flesh is soft whitish creamy colour with intense sweet taste when cooked or baked. The rounded fruit cultivar is more popular in India and Western Countries. Some cultivars of Solanum melongena plants develop purple coloured stems and branches when exposed to direct sunlight.




This grafted brinjal plant has purple stem when exposed to strong direct tropical sunlight


Aubergines or eggplants behave as an annual in temperate climates unless cultivated in the green house and protected from snow and frost. In the tropical climates it behaves as a parennial and grows into a shrubs or small tree. It can live for many years unless affected by diseases or intentionally removed from cultivation.

When Solanum melongena is grown on it's own root system, it is susceptible to soil salinity and soil borne diseases. This is the most common reason for its cultivation as an annual in the tropical climates. The following photos show the eggplants culivated on land. It gradually deteriorated after several months of transplanting and had completed its life cycle within a year and only produced a few fruits. Its height was never more than two feet. Most of the plants succumbed to vascular wilt disease either caused by Fusarium fungus, Verticillium fungus or Ralstonia bacteria. There is no effective treatment for vascular wilt disease. Prevention is difficult because the pathogens are very persistent in the soil. Crops rotation may be beneficial. But GRAFTING can solve this problem once and for all.



These brinjal plants are (NOT GRAFTED). They are planted on the land with their own root systems. They grow slower and more susceptible to soil borne diseases.



These brinjal plants are (NOT GRAFTED). They are planted on the land with their own root systems. They grow slower and more susceptible to soil borne diseases.



It bloomed after 3 months

Fruits formed 2 weeks after pollination

Mature fruits 1 month after pollination.