NEW SOURCE FOR HIGH ANTHER CULTURE RESPONSE TURKISH LOCAL EGGPLANT (Solanum melongena L.) GENOTYPE

In this study, 28 local (Yamula) eggplant genotypes, 1 Manisa eggplant genotype and 3 Kemer eggplant genotypes commonly grown in Turkey were subjected to anther culture. While the genotypes ERU-3008, ERU-3011 and ERU-3016 did not have anther development, the others had anther developments at different ratios varied between 3.33% (ERU-3009 and ERU-3012) and 50% (ERU-961). Of the genotypes with anther development, 10 had embryo formation at different ratios varied between 6.25% (ERU-3015) 37.5% (ERU-952). Embryo formation was not observed in control group genotypes (Kemer and Manisa). It was observed in the present study that Yamula eggplant prominent especially with fruit flesh firmness yielded positive responses to anther culture