Puesta en valor de la berenjena de Almagro a través de la caracterización y mejora genética

Resumen

Almagro eggplant (Solanum melongena) is a traditional variety from the Campo de Calatrava county used for pickling. Almagro eggplant is the only eggplant variety recognized with a Protected Geographical Indication status. During the last years we have undertaken a program aimed at studying its diversity and most relevant characteristics of this eggplant variety. Also, we have performed a selection of this variety and a backcross breeding program. Diversity studies performed with morphological and molecular markers show that Almagro eggplant is genetically heterogeneous. Nonetheless, it presents morphological and microsatellite (SSR) molecular markers that allow differentiating it clearly from other pickling varieties. Despite presenting certain similarities with Asian eggplants, the molecular analyses show that, genetically, Almagro eggplant clusters with the rest of Spanish varieties. Evaluation of the chemical composition shows that Almagro eggplant is the one presenting a highest content in phenolics in a collection of eggplant varieties, which confers it a high nutraceutical value. A more detailed analysis shows that it presents high levels of chlorogenic acid, with values higher than those of the wild species S. incanum. Selection works within this variety have allowed the selection of one line (H15) with a higher yield and lower prickliness than the original variety and that at the same time maintains the typical characteristics of the Almagro variety. Also, the backcrossing programs performed using the Andalusian pickling eggplant and varieties for the fresh market as donors of low prickliness has resulted in the selection of several materials with good characteristics, like high yield and low prickliness, and that at present are in the phase of evaluation and fixation. In summary, this works shows that characterization, together with selection and breeding can contribute to enhance our most representative local varieties.