Evaluation  of brinjal varieties for yield, genetic variability and disease reaction grown as  late rabi season crop in Assam

Five hybrid brinjal varieties viz., Ketan, Vijay Kiron, Utkal Green, NV2035 Sarpan Bharata and two local cultivars viz.,  JC-1, Longai  were evaluated at Horticultural Research Station, Kahikuchi, Guwahati as late rabi crop during 2014-16. Significant variation in plant growth parameters  and fruit yield as well as on  bacterial wilt incidence (Ralstonia solanacearum)  were shown by all the varieties.Utkal Green recorded the highest per plant fruit yield (2.32 kg/plant) leading to the maximum total marketable yield (469.66 q/ha) and longer active fruiting duration (43.70 days).It also showed resistant reaction to  bacterial wilt, recording only 12.44 per cent wilt  incidence  as compared to other varieties where it was in the range of  34.44 to 62.22 % at 55 days after transplanting. Although, Ketan and Vijay Kiron recorded moderately higher per plant fruit yield of 1.52 and 1.47 kg/plant,respectively but their total marketable fruit production reduced substantially due to high incidence of bacterial wilt (62.22 and 57.78%, respectively).The local cultivars, JC-1 and Longai  exhibited moderately resistant reaction  to bacterial wilt which registered 40.00 and 34.44 % , respectively.