Plant regeneration in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.): A review

Eggplant is highly responsive to various tissue culture techniques. Somatic embryogenesis and direct organogenesis are widely studied protocols in this crop, but potential of regeneration varies with genotype, explant and culture media supplemented with different combination and concentration of growth hormones. The genotype is the most important factor affecting somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis. Embryogenic competence occurs even within explant segments. Among growth regulators, auxins and cytokinins are of more significance as their ratio determines callogenesis, rhizogenesis, embryogenesis and regeneration in eggplant. Organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis related gene expression has been studied and transcripts have been analyzed through molecular studies. Efficient plant regeneration protocols would make a platform for exploitation of useful somaclonal variations, mutation breeding, induction of di-haploids, and genetic transformation with economically important genes for the improvement of eggplant. Key words: Callus, somatic embryogenesis, organogenesis, hypocotyl, cotyledon, leaf.