The Phenolics and Antioxidant Properties of Black and Purple versus White Eggplant Cultivars.

The total phenolic content, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, antioxidant capacity and α-amylase inhibitory activity of black (Aydin Siyahi), purple (Kadife Kemer) and white (Trabzon Kadife) eggplants grown in Turkey were subjected to a comparative investigation. The black cultivar exhibited the highest total phenolic (17,193 and 6552 mg gallic acid equivalent/kg fw), flavonoid (3019 and 1160 quercetin equivalent/kg fw) and anthocyanin (1686 and 6167 g delphinidin-3-O-glucoside equivalent/kg fw) contents in crude extracts of the peel and pulp. The majority of the caffeic acid was identified in the ester (2830 mg/kg fw) and ester-bound (2594 mg/kg fw) forms in the peel of 'Kadife Kemer' and in the glycoside form (611.9 mg/kg fw) in 'Aydin Siyahi', as well as in the pulp of these two eggplants. 'Kadife Kemer' (purple eggplant) contained the majority of the chlorogenic acid in free form (27.55 mg/kg fw), compared to 'Aydin Siyahi' in the ester (7.82 mg/kg fw), glycoside (294.1 mg/kg dw) and ester-bound (2.41 mg/kg fw) forms. The eggplant cultivars (peel and pulp, mg/kg fw) exhibited a relatively high delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside concentration in the peel of 'Aydin Siyahi' (avg. 1162), followed by 'Kadife Kemer' (avg. 336.6), and 'Trabzon Kadife' (avg. 215.1). The crude phenolic extracts of the eggplants exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity values (peel and pulp, µmoL Trolox equivalent/kg fw) of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH, 8156 and 2335) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC, 37,887 and 17,648). The overall results indicate that black and purple eggplants are the cultivars with greater potential benefits in terms of their phenolics and antioxidant values than the white eggplant.

Eggplant grafting on a cold-tolerant rootstock reduces fruit chilling susceptibility and improves antioxidant stability during storage.

BACKGROUND: Vegetable grafting has been increasingly evaluated to improve preharvest tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, very few studies have identified rootstock-scion combinations able to improve fruit shelf life and reduce the susceptibility to postharvest disorders. Herein, a purple eggplant scion (cv. Monarca) was grafted onto a cold-tolerant hybrid Solanum rootstock ('Java') and the changes in growth, quality, postharvest chilling tolerance, and antioxidant stability were evaluated. RESULTS: Eggplant grafting enhanced plant vigor and fruit growth rate, decreasing the time from set to harvest by 10-15%. Grafted eggplants had a thinner shape and lighter pulp color than the control. The rootstock-scion combination tested showed lower respiration (~60%), dry matter (~15-20%), and phenolic compounds contents (~15-20%) than eggplants from non-grafted plants. Grafting markedly improved fruit performance during postharvest storage. Remarkably, grafted eggplants showed much higher tolerance to chilling injury than the control did, evidenced by a reduction of surface scalds along with decreased softening and pulp browning. The trend in antioxidants found at harvest time was reversed after cold storage due to enhanced stability (20% and 100% for pulp and peel respectively) in fruit from grafted plants. CONCLUSION: Purple eggplant (cv. Monarca) grafting onto 'Java' hybrid rootstock modulated fruit growth, quality at harvest, and increased fruit chilling injury tolerance during storage. Grafting may be a bona fide strategy to induce phenotypic traits able to improve vegetable postharvest performance. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Transcriptomics reveal new insights into molecular regulation of nitrogen use efficiency in Solanum melongena.

Nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) is a complex trait of great interest in breeding programs because through its improvement, high crop yields can be maintained whilst N supply is reduced. In this study, we report a transcriptomic analysis of four NUE-contrasting eggplant (Solanum melongena) genotypes following short- and long-term exposure to low N, to identify key genes related to NUE in the roots and shoots. The differentially expressed genes in the high-NUE genotypes are involved in the light-harvesting complex and receptor, a ferredoxin-NADP reductase, a catalase and WRKY33. These genes were then used as bait for a co-expression gene network analysis in order to identify genes with the same trends in expression. This showed that up-regulation of WRKY33 triggered higher expression of a cluster of 21 genes and also of other genes, many of which were related to N-metabolism, that were able to improve both nitrogen uptake efficiency and nitrogen utilization efficiency, the two components of NUE. We also conducted an independent de novo experiment to validate the significantly higher expression of WRKY33 and its gene cluster in the high-NUE genotypes. Finally, examination of an Arabidopsis transgenic 35S::AtWRKY33 overexpression line showed that it had a bigger root system and was more efficient at taking up N from the soil, confirming the pivotal role of WRKY33 for NUE improvement.

SmFLS negatively regulates peel coloring of eggplant (Solanum melongena) under high temperature.

The SmFLS gene was cloned from eggplant and has an ORF of 1014 bp encoding 337 amino acids. The deduced protein sequence of SmFLS was 88.07% and 84.94% identical to homologs encoded by StFLS in Solanum tuberosum and SlFLS in S. lycopersicum, respectively. SmFLS contains typical DIOX_N and 2OG-Fe (II)_Oxy functional domains, as well as five strictly conserved amino acid residues (H223, D225, H279, R289, and S291) related to FLS enzyme activity. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that SmFLS had the closest genetic relationship with the FLS genes in potato and tomato. At a high temperature of 35 °C, the expression level of SmFLS was higher than that of the control in the same period, and it reached extremely significant levels on 15DAF and 20DAF, at which the eggplant peel color became lighter accordingly. Upon overexpression of SmFLS in eggplant, the flavonol content of transformed plants was significantly higher than that of untransformed plants, and the peel color was lighter than that of the control. The results indicate that SmFLS negatively regulates eggplant peel coloration under high temperature.

Eggplant Domestication: Pervasive Gene Flow, Feralization, and Transcriptomic Divergence.

In the context of food security, examining the genomics of domestication will help identify genes underlying adaptive and economically important phenotypes, for example, larger fruit, improved taste, and loss of agronomically inferior phenotypes. Examination of genome-scale single nucleotide polymorphisms demonstrates the relationships between wild ancestors of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), confirming that Solanum insanum L. is the wild progenitor. This species is split roughly into an Eastern (Malaysian, Thai, and Vietnamese) and Western (Indian, Madagascan, and Sri Lankan) group, with domesticates derived from the former. Additional "wild" accessions from India appear to be feral escapes, derived multiple times from domesticated varieties through admixture. Accessions with small egg-shaped fruit are generally found intermixed with East Asian Solanum insanum confirming they are primitive relative to the large-fruited domesticates. Comparative transcriptomics was used to track the loci under selection. Sequence analysis revealed a genetic bottleneck reducing variation by almost 50% in the primitive accessions relative to the wild species and a further 10% in the landraces. We also show evidence for selection on genes with a role in response to wounding and apoptosis. Genes showing a significant difference in expression between wild and primitive or between primitive and landrace genepools were mostly (>75%) downregulated in the derived populations and enriched for gene ontologies related to defense, flowering, signaling, and response to biotic and abiotic stimuli. This work reveals genomic changes involved in crop domestication and improvement, and the population genetics work explains why defining the eggplant domestication trajectory has been so challenging.

Kc167, a widely used Drosophila cell line, contains an active primary piRNA pathway.

PIWI family proteins bind to small RNAs known as PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and play essential roles in the germline by silencing transposons and by promoting germ cell specification and function. Here we report that the widely used Kc167 cell line, derived from Drosophila melanogaster embryos, expresses piRNAs that are loaded to Aub and Piwi. Kc167 piRNAs are produced by a canonical, primary piRNA biogenesis pathway, from phased processing of precursor transcripts by the Zuc endonuclease, Armi helicase, and dGasz mitochondrial scaffold protein. Kc167 piRNAs derive from cytoplasmic transcripts, notably tRNAs and mRNAs, and their abundance correlates with that of parent transcripts. The expression of Aub is robust in Kc167, that of Piwi is modest, while Ago3 is undetectable, explaining the lack of transposon-related piRNA amplification by the Aub-Ago3, ping-pong mechanism. We propose that the default state of the primary piRNA biogenesis machinery is random transcript sampling to allow generation of piRNAs from any transcript, including newly acquired retrotransposons. This state is unmasked in Kc167, likely because they do not express piRNA cluster transcripts in sufficient amounts and do not amplify transposon piRNAs. We use Kc167 to characterize an inactive isoform of Aub protein. Since most Kc167 piRNAs are genic, they can be mapped uniquely to the genome, facilitating computational analyses. Furthermore, because Kc167 is a widely used and well-characterized cell line that is easily amenable to experimental manipulations, we expect that it will serve as an excellent system to study piRNA biogenesis and piRNA-related factors.

High temperature reduces peel color in eggplant (Solanum melongena) as revealed by RNA-seq analysis.

To acquire the eggplant transcriptome under high temperature stress, 18 cDNA libraries were constructed and sequenced. A total of 136.31 Gb of clean data was obtained, and 88.86%-92.35% of the clean reads were mapped to the eggplant reference genome. Under high temperature, the number of down-regulated genes was more than that of up-regulated genes and there were more differentially expressed genes on the 10th day after flowering than on the 15th and 20th days after flowering. On the 10th day after flowering, the key genes CHI, 3GT, F3'5'H, DFR2, ANS, and F3H in anthocyanin synthetic pathway and most ERF, WRKY, bHLH, and MYB transcription factors were all down-regulated. High temperature significantly decreased the total anthocyanin content in peels. The results showed that at the early stage of peel coloring, high temperature inhibited the expressions of key genes in anthocyanin biosynthetic pathways through the regulation of transcription factors, leading to a significant decrease in total anthocyanin content, which might reduce the peel color in eggplant.

Specific PCR-based detection of Phomopsis vexans the cause of leaf blight and fruit rot pathogen of Solanum melongena L.

Leaf blight and fruit rot disease caused by Phomopsis vexans is a devastating disease of brinjal. The detection of P. vexans in plant parts and seeds of brinjal can be complicated, mainly when the inoculum is present at low levels and/or overgrown by fast-growing saprophytic fungi or other seed-borne fungi. A PCR-based diagnostic method was developed with specific primers designed based on sequence data of a region consisting of the 5·8S RNA gene and internal transcribed spacers, ITS 1 and ITS 2 of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) repeats of P. vexans. The efficiency and specificity of primer pairs PvexF/PvexR designed were established by PCR analysis of DNA from P. vexans strains isolated from India and fungal isolates of other genera. A single amplification product of 323-bp was detected from DNA of P. vexans isolates. No cross-reaction was observed with any of the other isolates tested. The specific primers designed and employed in PCR detected P. vexans up to 10 pg from DNA isolated from pure culture. This is the first report on the development of species-specific PCR assay for identification and detection of P. vexans. Thus, PCR-based assay developed is very specific, rapid, confirmatory and sensitive tool for the detection of pathogen P. vexans at early stages. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Phomopsis vexans is an important seed-borne pathogenic fungus responsible for leaf blight and fruit rot in brinjal. Current detection methods, based on culture and morphological identification is time consuming, laborious and are not always reliable. A PCR-based diagnostic method was developed with species-specific primers designed based on sequence data of a region consisting of the 5·8S RNA gene and internal transcribed spacers, ITS 1 and ITS 2 of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) repeats of P. vexans.

Shedding new light on the origin and spread of the brinjal eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and its wild relatives.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: While brinjal eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is the second most important solanaceous fruit crop, we lack firm knowledge of its evolutionary relationships. This in turn limits efficient use of crop wild relatives in eggplant improvement. Here, we examine the hypothesis of linear step-wise expansion of the eggplant group from Africa to Asia. METHODS: We use museum collections to generate nuclear and full-plastome data for all species of the Eggplant clade. We combine a phylogenomic approach with distribution data to infer a biogeographic scenario for the clade. KEY RESULTS: The Eggplant clade has Pleistocene origins in northern Africa. Dispersals to tropical Asia gave rise to Solanum insanum, the wild progenitor of the eggplant, and to African distinct lineages of widespread and southern African species. Results suggest that spread of the species to southern Africa has been recent and likely facilitated by large mammalian herbivores, such as the African elephant and impala feeding on Solanum fruit. CONCLUSIONS: Rather than a linear 'Out Of Africa' sequence, our results are more consistent with an initial dispersal event into Asia, and subsequent wide dispersal and differentiation across Africa driven by large mammalian herbivores. Our evolutionary results will affect future work on eggplant domestication and affect the use of wild relatives in breeding of this increasingly important solanaceous crop.

The Drosophila fragile X mental retardation protein participates in the piRNA pathway.

RNA metabolism controls multiple biological processes, and a specific class of small RNAs, called piRNAs, act as genome guardians by silencing the expression of transposons and repetitive sequences in the gonads. Defects in the piRNA pathway affect genome integrity and fertility. The possible implications in physiopathological mechanisms of human diseases have made the piRNA pathway the object of intense investigation, and recent work suggests that there is a role for this pathway in somatic processes including synaptic plasticity. The RNA-binding fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP, also known as FMR1) controls translation and its loss triggers the most frequent syndromic form of mental retardation as well as gonadal defects in humans. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that germline, as well as somatic expression, of Drosophila Fmr1 (denoted dFmr1), the Drosophila ortholog of FMRP, are necessary in a pathway mediated by piRNAs. Moreover, dFmr1 interacts genetically and biochemically with Aubergine, an Argonaute protein and a key player in this pathway. Our data provide novel perspectives for understanding the phenotypes observed in Fragile X patients and support the view that piRNAs might be at work in the nervous system.

Solanum melongena polyphenol oxidase biosensor for the electrochemical analysis of paracetamol.

A new strategy for the construction of a polyphenol oxidase carbon paste biosensor for paracetamol detection is reported. The eggplant (Solanum melongena) was processed to collect the polyphenol oxidase as an enzyme that was incorporated in the carbon paste sensor construction. The constructed sensor displayed high sensitivity and good selection for paracetamol detection and recognition. Optimized conditions included pH 6.0 (highest activity), pH 7.0 (highest stability), pulse amplitude of 50 mV, and 15% of vegetable extract per carbon paste. The sensor displayed a linear range from 20 to 200 µM, with a detection limit of 5 µM. Application of the sensor to paracetamol determination in tablet and oral solutions have shown satisfactory results. The efficiency of the method showed very good repeatability ranging between 1.26 and 1.72% relative standard deviation for interday analysis, while recoveries for paracetamol varied between 97.5 and 99.8% for the voltammetric determination. The strategy for a simple, low cost, and efficient eggplant polyphenol oxidase sensor showcased in this work provides an opportunity for the detection of other phenolic compounds in various matrices.

PIWI proteins are essential for early Drosophila embryogenesis.

PIWI proteins, a subfamily of the ARGONAUTE/PIWI protein family, have been implicated in transcriptional and posttranscriptional gene regulation and transposon silencing mediated by small non-coding RNAs, especially piRNAs. Although these proteins are known to be required for germline development, their somatic function remains elusive. Here, we examine the maternal function of all three PIWI proteins in Drosophila; Piwi, Aubergine (Aub) and Argonaute3 (Ago3) during early embryogenesis. In syncytial embryos, Piwi displays an embryonic stage-dependent localization pattern. Piwi is localized in the cytoplasm during mitotic cycles 1-10. Between cycles 11 and 14, Piwi remains in the cytoplasm during mitosis but moves into the somatic nucleus during interphase. Beyond cycle 14, it stays in the nucleus. Aub and Ago3 are diffusely cytoplasmic from cycle 1 to 14. Embryos maternally depleted of any one of the three PIWI proteins display severe mitotic defects, including abnormal chromosome and nuclear morphology, cell cycle arrest, asynchronous nuclear division and aberrant nuclear migration. Furthermore, all three PIWI proteins are required for the assembly of mitotic machinery and progression through mitosis. Embryos depleted of maternal PIWI proteins also exhibit chromatin organization abnormalities. These observations indicate that maternal Piwi, Aub and Ago3 play a critical role in the maintenance of chromatin structure and cell cycle progression during early embryogenesis, with compromised chromatin integrity as a possible cause of the observed mitotic defects. Our study demonstrates the essential function of PIWI proteins in the first phase of somatic development.

Signs, symptoms and treatment of penile fracture.

Penile fracture is an uncommon injury and requires urgent treatment, therefore emergency nurses should be aware of the signs and symptoms and understand the importance of immediate surgical referral. This article describes the anatomy and physiology of penile erection and the ways in which penile fracture can occur. It also outlines the management of patients and includes a case study of a fracture caused by vigorous masturbation.

piRNA pathway gene expression in the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi.

The ability of transposons to mobilize to new places in a genome enables them to introgress rapidly into populations. The piRNA pathway has been characterized recently in the germ line of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, and is responsible for downregulating transposon mobility. Transposons have been used as tools in mosquitoes to genetically transform a number of species including Anopheles stephensi, a vector of human malaria. These mobile genetic elements also have been proposed as tools to drive antipathogen effector genes into wild mosquito populations to replace pathogen-susceptible insects with those engineered genetically to be resistant to or unable to transmit a pathogen. The piRNA pathway may affect the performance of such proposed genetic engineering strategies. In the present study, we identify and describe the An. stephensi orthologues of the major genes in the piRNA pathway, Ago3, Aubergine (Aub) and Piwi. Consistent with a role in protection from transposon movement, these three genes are expressed constitutively in the germ-line cells of ovaries and induced further after a blood meal.

Surgical management and post-operative functional outcomes of patients with a penile fracture-a single centre experience over 10 years.

BACKGROUND: Penile fractures are uncommon urological emergencies which occur when there has been a breach in the tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosum that may be unilateral and bilateral and can extend to involve the urethra. AIM: To assess the management and outcomes of penile fractures in a single institution in Ireland. METHODS: A retrospective review of the emergency theatre logbooks was performed between 2011 and 2021 to identify patients who had undergone an exploration for a suspected penile fracture. OUTCOMES: Seventeen patients were initially identified on review of theatre logbooks as having an exploration for a suspected penile fracture. Two patients were excluded from the study due to a lack of clinical notes being available. A further 4 patients on chart review were found to not have a penile fracture at exploration. RESULTS: Eleven patients had a confirmed penile fracture intra-operatively, four of whom had an associated urethral injury. Nine (9/11) patients had preserved normal erections post-operatively documented on follow-up; two, however, reported erectile dysfunction requiring phosphodiesterase inhibitors. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our study supports urgent surgical exploration for penile fractures to ensure good functional outcomes. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: This is a retrospective review of theatre logbooks to identify patients with a suspected penile fracture. CONCLUSION: The results of our cohort show a good outcome of erectile function following surgical repair of a penile fracture (9/11; 82%). Four patients (4/11; 36%) had a urethral injury diagnosed intra-operatively, one of whom required a formal urethroplasty.

Aubergine stem restores reproductive damages following diabetes mellitus induction in male mice.

Diabetes mellitus unbalances cellular antioxidant levels. This phenomenon can potentially lead to cellular damage and apoptosis in the male reproductive system. Besides, herbal-based antioxidants can prevent these detrimental changes. Thus, we assessed the probable role of Aubergine stems with antioxidant and anti-hyperlipidemic characteristics on reproductive damage following diabetes mellitus induction. Forty male NMRI mice were categorized into groups of control and treatments. Diabetes was induced by a single dose of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg), and the extract was administered at various doses (100, 300, and 500 mg/kg) daily for 4 weeks. Antioxidative features of the extract were approved by phytochemical assays and ferric-reducing ability of plasma. Side-effects of diabetes were also assessed by the malondialdehyde (MDA) and Griess techniques. Sperm parameters, LH, FSH, and testosterone levels, the TUNEL assay, histopathologic alteration, and apoptotic genes (p53, caspase-3, Bcl-2) were evaluated. Results showed that diabetes increased oxidation levels and the extract accelerated total antioxidant capacity status. Sperm parameters and hormone levels were restored following extract administration in diabetic animals. Also, the apoptosis rate decreased following extract administration in diabetic animals. We concluded that diabetes can elevate the levels of oxidation and suppress the antioxidant power. These pathologic changes were restored by Aubergine stem, leading to decreased levels of apoptosis and normal serum levels of testosterone, LH, and FSH.

Microbial fungicides can positively affect aubergine photosynthetic properties, soil enzyme activity and microbial community structure.

Background: This study examined the effects of microbial agents on the enzyme activity, microbial community construction and potential functions of inter-root soil of aubergine (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.). This study also sought to clarify the adaptability of inter-root microorganisms to environmental factors to provide a theoretical basis for the stability of the microbiology of inter-root soil of aubergine and for the ecological preservation of farmland soil. Methods: Eggplant inter-root soils treated with Bacillus subtilis (QZ_T1), Bacillus subtilis (QZ_T2), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (QZ_T3), Verticillium thuringiensis (QZ_T4) and Verticillium purpureum (QZ_T5) were used to analyse the effects of different microbial agents on the inter-root soils of aubergine compared to the untreated control group (QZ_CK). The effects of different microbial agents on the characteristics and functions of inter-root soil microbial communities were analysed using 16S rRNA and ITS (internal transcribed spacer region) high-throughput sequencing techniques. Results: The bacterial diversity index and fungal diversity index of the aubergine inter-root soil increased significantly with the application of microbial fungicides; gas exchange parameters and soil enzyme activities also increased. The structural and functional composition of the bacterial and fungal communities in the aubergine inter-root soil changed after fungicide treatment compared to the control, with a decrease in the abundance of phytopathogenic fungi and an increase in the abundance of beneficial fungi in the soil. Enhancement of key community functions, reduction of pathogenic fungi, modulation of environmental factors and improved functional stability of microbial communities were important factors contributing to the microbial stability of fungicide-treated aubergine inter-root soils.

Role of eggplant trichome in whitefly oviposition and its relevance to biological control under greenhouse conditions.

The combined release of the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) and the mirid Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) provides effective biological control of the tobacco whitefly (Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)) in greenhouse eggplant. However, knowing how plants' trichomes affect pest-predator interactions could improve whitefly management. Here, the effect of two varieties with either the presence or absence of trichomes was assessed on naturally occurring whitefly populations and predator abundance in a first experiment under field conditions. Predator-prey models were developed to assess the effect of trichomes on pest and predator population dynamics under field conditions. In a second semi-field experiment, the occurrence and oviposition preferences of B. tabaci and A. swirskii in the same eggplant varieties were compared. Significantly higher numbers of whitefly and mite, adults and eggs, were found on the hairy variety in both experiments. However, no differences were found in N. tenuis abundance between varieties under field conditions. Predator-prey models showed that whitefly growth rate increased in the hairy variety. N. tenuis and A. swirskii showed different fitness parameters according to the variety, with the former displaying better performance in the hairless variety and the latter in the hairy variety. Both predators effectively controlled the increase in whitefly populations in both varieties. Overall, the findings suggest that the hairless variety is more effective in deterring whiteflies. Additionally, the higher population of A. swirskii on the hairy variety indicates that this predator benefited from both the presence of trichomes and the prey.

Effect of eggplant (Solanum melongena) on the metabolic syndrome: A review.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), also known as syndrome X, is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality. Increasing age, obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, and positive family history are the risk factors associated with MetS, which increases the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. Chemical compounds in the treatment of metabolic complications are associated with a lack of efficacy and severe side effects. Numerous studies have described the importance of herbs and natural products to treat human diseases. Therefore, nowadays, herbs-based diets and herbal medicines are recommended for the management of various diseases. The protective effects of several herbs have been reported against MetS such as rosemary, avocado, and silymarin. Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is a rich source of phenolic and alkaloid compounds. It possesses various pharmacological effects, including, anti-oxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and antihyperlipidemic, which has been supported by numerous investigations. In this review, we evaluated the effects of eggplant on MetS and its complications comprising diabetes, high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. According to these studies, eggplant can control diabetes through the anti-oxidative properties and inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity. Also, eggplant has exerted an antihypertensive effect via ACE inhibitory activity. Eggplant may have shown protective effects on hyperlipidemia and obesity via the induction of lipoprotein lipase activity and the reduction of pancreatic lipase activity.Eggplant can be useful in the treatment of MetS and its complications.

Doubled Haploids in Eggplant.

Eggplant is a solanaceous crop cultivated worldwide for its edible fruit. Eggplant breeding programs are mainly aimed to the generation of F1 hybrids by crossing two highly homozygous, pure lines, which are traditionally obtained upon several self crossing generations, which is an expensive and time consuming process. Alternatively, fully homozygous, doubled haploid (DH) individuals can be induced from haploid cells of the germ line in a single generation. Several attempts have been made to develop protocols to produce eggplant DHs principally using anther culture and isolated microspore culture. Eggplant could be considered a moderately recalcitrant species in terms of ability for DH production. Anther culture stands nowadays as the most valuable technology to obtain eggplant DHs. However, the theoretical possibility of having plants regenerated from somatic tissues of the anther walls cannot be ruled out. For this reason, the use of isolated microspores is recommended when possible. This approach still has room for improvement, but it is largely genotype-dependent. In this review, we compile the most relevant advances made in DH production in eggplant, their application to breeding programs, and the future perspectives for the development of other, less genotype-dependent, DH technologies.