PMC:101493 / 15184-17370 JSONTXT

{"target":"http://pubannotation.org/docs/sourcedb/PMC/sourceid/101493","sourcedb":"PMC","sourceid":"101493","source_url":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/101493","text":"Conclusions\nThe data hereby presented show the positive influence of the DefH9-iaaM parthenocarpic gene on eggplant productivity under both greenhouse (spring) and open field (summer) cultivation. Taking into account the data previously obtained under winter greenhouse cultivation [10], we conservatively estimate that the overall increase in productivity is at least 30–35%. The increase in productivity of DefH9-iaaM eggplants is mainly due to a drastically improved fruit-set under sub-optimal temperatures and to an enhanced fruit growth and weight. Fruit quality is also improved because the fruits are seedless and do not show a placental cavity. The qualitative improvement of DefH9-iaaM eggplant fruits is interesting both for the fresh market and for the processing industry. During early spring greenhouse production, DefH9-iaaM parthenocarpic hybrids always gave fruits with an average weight suitable for fresh market commercialization, while untransformed hybrids, under sub-optimal conditions, rarely produced commercial fruits. Thus, the DefH9-iaaM gene quantitatively and qualitatively improves eggplant production under both greenhouse and open field cultivation. In all genotypes tested the DefH9-iaaM gene had a very positive effect on production and quality parameters. Such findings are of paramount importance as the hybrids tested have the same genetic background that the relative controls, except for the presence of the DefH9-iaaM gene. The DefH9-iaaM gene, already known to be expressed in the placenta and ovules during early phases of flower development, is expressed also in mature fruits, most likely in tissues derived from the ovules.\nFrom an economical standpoint, the main advantages conferred to eggplant by the DefH9-iaaM gene are: i) production of marketable fruits under environmental conditions adverse for fruit-set and growth; ii) reduction of cultivation costs (energy, phytohormones and labor) necessary for off-season and open field eggplant cultivation; and iii) enhancement of fruit quality. Last but not least, contrary to conventional wisdom, these advantages have been achieved without the use of either male or female sterility genes.","divisions":[{"label":"title","span":{"begin":0,"end":11}},{"label":"p","span":{"begin":12,"end":1668}}],"tracks":[]}