Evaluation of varieties of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) for resistance to bacterial wilt in North East India

The experiment was conducted during rabi seasons of 2007–08 to 2009–10 at Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat. A total of 14 brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) genotypes received under All India Coordinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops including local ones were tested for resistance to bacterial wilt and performance of yield and its component characters. Promising varieties were tested in Lower Brahmaputra Valley Zone (LBVZ), North Bank Plain Zone (NBPZ) and Hill Zone (HZ) of Assam. Pooled data of 3 years trial conducted at Jorhat revealed that ‘Utsav’ exhibited lowest bacterial wilt incidence of 2.23% only as against 65.8% in the susceptible check PPL. The yield of ‘Utsav’ was the highest (168.6 q ha−1) which was 43.4% higher than the best check SM 6–6. The yield of ‘Utsav’ was 124.8, 8.6 and 14% higher in LBVZ, NBPZ and HZ, respectively. The duration of the crop as revealed from flowering and first harvesting was also shorter than the check varieties. ‘Utsav’ showed highest benefit: cost ratio of 3.64 as against 2.54 in SM 6–6. Hence, ‘Utsav’ may be recommended for both plain and hill areas of Assam and North Eastern region.