The book discusses the importance of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) as a crop highlighting
the potential for eggplant to serve as a model for understanding several evolutionary and
taxonomic questions. It also explores the genomic make-up in particular in comparison to other
Solanaceous crops and examines the parallels between eggplant and tomato domestication as well
as between the most common eggplant species and two related eggplants native to Africa
(Ethiopian eggplant [Solanum aethiopicum L.] and African eggplant [Solanum macrocarpon L.]).
The eggplant genome was first sequenced in 2014 and an improved version was due to be released
in 2017. Further investigations have revealed the relationships between wild species
domesticated eggplant and feral weedy eggplant (derived from the domesticate) as well as
targets of selection during domestication. Parallels between eggplant and tomato domestication
loci are well known and the molecular basis is currently being investigated. Eggplant is a
source of nutrition for millions of people worldwide especially in Southeast Asia where it is
a staple food source. Domesticated in the old world in contrast to its congeners tomato and
potato the eggplant is morphologically and nutritionally diverse. The spread of wild eggplants
from Africa is particularly interesting from a cultural point of view. This book brings
together diverse fields of research from bioinformatics to taxonomy to nutrition to allow
readers to fully understand eggplant¿s importance and potential.
