Seed Development and Maturation in Aubergine (Solanum melongena L.) Samenentwicklung und Samenreife bei Auberginen (Solanum melongena L.)

Summary Changes in seed quality were monitored during seed development and maturation in aubergine (Solanum melongena L. cv. ‘Pala’) in open-field experiments in 1999 and 2000. Seed quality of serially harvested seed lots was assessed by a number of different tests (germination, emergence, seedling dry weight, electrical conductivity, cold test, Ki (seed lot constant), germination at low (18 °C) and high (30 °C) temperatures). Mass maturity (the end of the seed-filling phase) occurred 40 days after anthesis (DAA) in 1999 and 42 DAA in 2000. In contrast, maximum seed quality was attained 50 and 60 DAA which was 10 and 20 d and 8 and 28 d after mass maturity (DAMM) in 1999 and 2000, respectively, which varied between quality tests. Results provide further evidence that the hypothesis that seed quality is maximal at the end of the seed filling-phase and declines thereafter is not applicable for aubergine.