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{{SPlantbox
{{SPlantbox
|familia=Solanaceae
|familia=Solanaceae
|genus=Solanum
|genus=Solanum
|species=melongena
|species=melongena
|common_name=Aubergine, Eggplant, Jew's apple
|common_name=Aubergine, Eggplant, Jew's apple
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|Max wd metric=in
|Max wd metric=in
|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|lifespan=annual
|lifespan=perennial, annual
|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|life_ref=Wikipedia
|exposure=sun
|exposure=sun
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|features=edible
|features=edible, fruit
|flowers=blue, purple
|flowers=blue, purple
|Temp Metric=°F
|Temp Metric=°F
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|max_zone=12
|max_zone=12
|image=Upload.png
|image=Solanum melongena ja02.jpg
|image_width=200
| image_width = 240px <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
}}
}}
The '''eggplant''', '''aubergine''', '''melongene''' or '''brinjal''' (''Solanum melongena'') is a plant of the family ''[[Solanaceae]]'' (also known as the nightshades) and genus ''[[Solanum]]''. It bears a [[fruit]] of the same name, commonly used as a [[vegetable]] in cooking. As a [[nightshade]], it is closely related to the [[tomato]] and [[potato]] and is native to [[Nepal]], [[India]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Pakistan]], and [[Sri Lanka]].
It is a delicate [[perennial plant|perennial]] often cultivated as an [[annual plant|annual]]. It grows 40 to 150 cm (16 to 57 in) tall, with large coarsely lobed [[leaf|leaves]] that are 10 to 20 cm (4–8 in) long and 5 to 10 cm (2–4 in) broad. (Semi-)wild types can grow much larger, to 225 cm (7 ft) with large leaves over 30 cm (12 in) long and 15 cm (6 in) broad. The stem is often [[spine (botany)|spiny]]. The [[flower]]s are white to purple, with a five-lobed [[Corolla (flower)|corolla]] and yellow [[stamen]]s. The [[fruit]] is fleshy, less than 3 cm in diameter on wild plants, but much larger in cultivated forms.
The fruit is botanically classified as a [[berry]], and contains numerous small, soft [[seed]]s, which are edible, but are bitter because they contain (an insignificant amount of) [[nicotine|nicotinoid]] [[alkaloid]]s, unsurprising as it is a close relative of [[tobacco]].
{{Inc|
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Solanum melongena, Linn. (S. insanum, Linn.). Erect and much-branched herb or subshrub, 2-3 ft. tall, woolly or scurfy, spiny: lvs. large and heavy, ovate or oblong-ovate, becoming nearly glabrous above but remaining densely tomentose beneath, shallowly sinuate-lobed: fls. large, mostly in clusters, the calyx woolly and often spiny, the spreading, deeply lobed, purplish corolla 1 in. or more across: fr. a large berry. Afr. and S. Asia. Original habitat probably S. W. Asia.
Solanum melongena, Linn. (S. insanum, Linn.). Erect and much-branched herb or subshrub, 2-3 ft. tall, woolly or scurfy, spiny: lvs. large and heavy, ovate or oblong-ovate, becoming nearly glabrous above but remaining densely tomentose beneath, shallowly sinuate-lobed: fls. large, mostly in clusters, the calyx woolly and often spiny, the spreading, deeply lobed, purplish corolla 1 in. or more across: fr. a large berry. Afr. and S. Asia. Original habitat probably S. W. Asia.
Var. esculentum, Nees (S. esculentum and S. ovigerum, Dun.). Common Eggplant. Guinea Squash. Aubergine. Figs. 1379-1381, 1383, Vol. II. Cult. for its large frs., which are usually oblong, obovoid, or egg-shape in form, and purple, white, yellowish or striped: differs from the wild plant in having fewer spines, mostly solitary fls., and much larger and more variable frs. There are 2 well-marked subvarieties: var. serpentinum, Bailey. Snake Eggplant. Fr. greatly elongated and curled at the end. Var. depressum, Bailey. Dwarf Purple Eggplant. Fig. 1382. Low and diffuse, many of the branches finally resting on the ground, usually dark-colored, nearly glabrous and always spiny: lvs. small and relatively thin, less lobed: fls. small and longer stalked: fr. purple, pyriform. See Eggplant.
Var. esculentum, Nees (S. esculentum and S. ovigerum, Dun.). Common Eggplant. Guinea Squash. Aubergine. Cult. for its large frs., which are usually oblong, obovoid, or egg-shape in form, and purple, white, yellowish or striped: differs from the wild plant in having fewer spines, mostly solitary fls., and much larger and more variable frs. There are 2 well-marked subvarieties: var. serpentinum, Bailey. Snake Eggplant. Fr. greatly elongated and curled at the end. Var. depressum, Bailey. Dwarf Purple Eggplant. Low and diffuse, many of the branches finally resting on the ground, usually dark-colored, nearly glabrous and always spiny: lvs. small and relatively thin, less lobed: fls. small and longer stalked: fr. purple, pyriform. See Eggplant.
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==Cultivation==
==Cultivation==
{{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
Spacing should be 45 cm (18 in.) to 60 cm (24 in.) between plants, depending on cultivar, and 60 cm to 90 cm (24 to 36 in.) between rows, depending on the type of cultivation equipment being used. [[Mulch]]ing will help conserve moisture and prevent weeds and fungal diseases. The flowers are relatively unattractive to [[bee]]s and the first blossoms often do not set fruit. [[Hand pollination]] will improve the set of the first blossoms. Fruits are typically cut from the vine just above the calyx owing to the semi-woody stems. Flowers are [[Perfect_flower#Individual_reproductive_unit_.28a_flower_in_angiosperms.29|complete]], containing both female and male structures, and may be [[Self-pollination|self-pollinated]] or [[Cross_pollination#Mechanics|cross-pollinated]].<ref name="Polination of Vegetable Crops">{{cite web| last=Westerfield| first=Robert| url=http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubs/PDF/C934.pdf| title=Pollination of Vegetable Crops| accessdate=2009-07-01| date=2008-11-14| format=pdf}}</ref>
===Propagation===
===Propagation===
In [[tropical climate|tropical]] and [[subtropical climate]]s, eggplant can be sown directly into the garden. Eggplant grown in [[temperate]] climates fares better when transplanted into the garden after all danger of [[frost]] is passed. Seeds are typically started eight to ten weeks prior to the anticipated frost-free date.
===Pests and diseases===
===Pests and diseases===
Many pests and diseases which afflict other solanaceous vegetables, such as tomato, pepper (capsicum), and potato, are also troublesome to eggplants. For this reason, it should not be planted in areas previously occupied by its close relatives. Four years should separate successive crops of eggplants. Common [[North America]]n pests include the [[Colorado potato beetle|potato beetle]], [[flea beetle]], [[aphid]]s, and [[Tetranychus urticae|spider mites]]. Many of these can be controlled using ''[[Bacillus thuringiensis]]'' (Bt), a [[bacteria|bacterium]] that attacks the soft-bodied larvae. (Adults can be removed by hand, though flea beetles can be especially difficult to control.) Good sanitation and crop-rotation practices are extremely important for controlling fungal disease, the most serious of which is [[Verticillium]].
==Species==
==Varieties==
[[File:Makhuea - Thai eggplant.JPG|thumb|left|In [[Thai cuisine]] small and round varieties are preferred.]]
Different varieties of the plant produce fruit of different size, shape and color, especially purple, green, or white. There are even orange varieties.
The most widely cultivated varieties ([[cultivar]]s) in [[Europe]] and [[North America]] today are elongated ovoid, 12–25 cm wide (4 1/2 to 9 in) and 6–9 cm broad (2 to 4 in) in a dark purple skin.
A much wider range of shapes, sizes and colors is grown in India and elsewhere in Asia. Larger varieties weighing up to a kilogram (2 pounds) grow in the region between the [[Ganges]] and [[Yamuna]] rivers, while smaller varieties are found elsewhere. Colors vary from white to yellow or green as well as reddish-purple and dark purple. Some cultivars have a color gradient, from white at the stem to bright pink to deep purple or even black. Green or purple cultivars in white striping also exist. Chinese varieties are commonly shaped like a narrower, slightly pendulous [[cucumber]], and were sometimes called Japanese eggplants in North America.
Oval or elongated oval-shaped and black-skinned cultivars include ''Harris Special Hibush'', ''Burpee Hybrid'', ''Black Magic'', ''Classic'', ''Dusky'', and ''Black Beauty''. Slim cultivars in purple-black skin include ''Little Fingers'', ''Ichiban'', ''Pingtung Long'', and ''Tycoon''; in green skin ''Louisiana Long Green'' and ''Thai (Long) Green''; in white skin ''Dourga''. Traditional, white-skinned, egg-shaped cultivars include ''Casper'' and ''Easter Egg''. Bicolored cultivars with color gradient include ''Rosa Bianca'' and ''Violetta di Firenze''. Bicolored cultivars in striping include ''Listada de Gandia'' and ''Udumalapet''. In some parts of India, miniature varieties (most commonly called ''Vengan'') are popular. A particular variety of green brinjal known as Matti Gulla is grown in [[Matti village]] of Udupi district in Karnataka state in India.
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery perrow=5>
File:Eggplant (Fruit).jpg| photo 1
<gallery>
File:Eggplant (Flower).jpg| photo 2
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
</gallery>
</gallery>
==References==
==References==
<references/>
<!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 -->
<!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 -->
<!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 -->
<!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 -->
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