Cultivar Evaluation For Eggplant Production Under Organic Crop Management System In The U.S. Virgin Islands

On-farm trials were conducted over two seasons to evaluate yield performance of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cultivars under organic crop management system. In 1998, cultivars included 7 hybrids with oval or egg-shaped fruit and 4 open-pollinated Oriental type, elongated fruit shape. Trial in 2001 consisted of 5 hybrids and 3 Oriental type cultivars. Plants were spaced 61 cm within rows 1.22 m apart. Both trials were established using a randomized complete block design with three replications. An organic crop management system was adopted in growing and maintaining the crops. These consisted of organic insect sprays, cow manure and grass straw mulch. Data were collected on number of harvests, fruit size and marketable yield. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in marketable yield among cultivars within hybrids and openpollinated in both seasons. In 1998, top yielding hybrid cultivars were 'Black Nite' (32.4 t ha"1), 'Black Bell' (29.5 t ha1) and 'Black Beauty' (28.8 t ha"1). Cultivar 'Trinidad Long' produced the highest yield among the open-pollinated type. Hybrid cultivars 'Black Nite', 'Black Bell' and 'Black Beauty' maintained top yields in 2001 whereas cultivar 'Megal' produced the highest yield (18.0 t ha"1) among the Oriental type. Common insect pests were mealy bugs, aphids, flea beetles and mites. Organic sprays were not very effective, but reduced pest population resulting in minimal damage. Marketable yields were comparable with or higher than those reported in previous evaluation trials which suggests that improved eggplant cultivars can be grown successfully under organic management system without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.