BRINJAL (Solanum melongena L.)

It is one of the most common vegetables grown throughout the Country. This can be grown successfully under the climatic conditions prevailing in South India and the Deccan Plateau. It comes up well even in hilly regions where the temperature do not come down below 5 C. In Andhra Pradesh it is cultivated in an Area of 3000 hectares with annual production of 84,430 tons. It is rich in Vitamin A and B. Seasons It can be grown inplains throughout the year but rabi season is the best. Rainy Season - June - July Winter Season - October - November Summer Season - February - March SOILS A well drained soil with medium to high fertility is best suited. Varieties BHAGMATI It was released by APAU. It is freely branching , erect type compact in habit. The emerging leaves are Purple in color , with slightly purple stem. Fairly resistant to fruit borer and little leaf virus. Fruits are borne in clusters of 3-6 , deep purple with oblong shape and without spines. It comes to harvest in about 45-50 Days after planting. Duration of the crop is 140-160 days. This variety withstands better for drought. Also performs better in upland rainfed cultivation. Yields range from 30-35 tons/ha. PUSA PURPLE CLUSTER Crop comes to harvest in 65-75 days, tall, erect, compact habit. Leaves and stem are purple. Fruits borne in clusters of 3-6 fruits deep pirple oval shape, 10-12 cm long. Heavy yielder 30-40 tons/ha. Resistant to bacterial wilt. Duration is 135-140 days. PUSA PURPLE LONG It is an early variety. Comes to harvest in about 45 days after planting . Semi erect habit, medium height, leaves and stem are green in colour, spines are absent. The leaves are with cut edges. Fruits long, purple, glossy, 25-30 cm long. PUSA PURPLE ROUND Tall, erect, and sturdy in habit. Leaves and stems are dark green colour and without spines. Leaves are with entire margin. Fruits round weighing 130-150gm purple glossy, smooth and large. Resistant to litle leaf disease; 135-150 days duration ; yields moderate i.e., 20-25 tons/ha. PUSA KRANTI Tall, vigorous and sturdy in habit, leaves and stem are mild green. Spines are absent . Fruits oblong purple with shining gloomy appearance with attractive green calyx. Fruits are borne in singles, medium to large in size heavy yielder 35-40 tons/ha. Duration is 135-150 days . ARKA SHEEL The fruits are medium long tender and possess an attractive deep purple skin colour. The fruit contains more edible flesh and less number of seeds. It is a very high yielding and produces on an average 394q/ha in 110 to 120 days after tranplanting. ARKA KUSUMAKAR The fruits are small finger shaped and light green in color. The fruits are borne in clusters of 5-7. It is a very high yielding and dwarf plant bears about 70-75 fruits per plant with an average yield of 397 q/ha in about 110 to 120 days after transplanting. Seeds and Sowing 650 g/ha or nursery of 25-30 beds of the size 1x4 m would be adequate to transplant one hectare. The seedlings with 3-4 leaves which are approximately 30-35 days old should be transplanted with a spacing of 50x50cm. Or 75x50cm. Plant Protection Name of the Pests/Diseases Symptoms of damage Control measures PESTS Epilachana beetles (Akshintala Purugu) octopunctata E.dodecastigma Both adults and grubs skeletonize the leaves which present a lace like appearance. These leaves dry up and plant presents an unhealthy appearance. Spray of Malathion 0.16% @ 3 ml per water of Methyl parathion 0.03% @ 1ml per lit.of water. @ 1ml per lit.of water. Brijal shoot and fruit Borer(Muvva Mariyu Kaya Toluchu Purugu) Leucinodes orbonalis In nursery no damage is done by this tranplanted seedlings. They wither and tranplanted seedlings. They wither and droop. At fruiting stage fruits are bored. They form galleries. They form galleries. 3 sprayingsof Carbaryl 50% w.p.2.5 g or Monocrotophos @ 1.25 ml per lit of Water .A safe period of 10 days should Water .A safe period of 10 days should Be maintained between spraying and Harvest. Brinjal mealy bug (pindi Purugu) Centrococcus insolitus Stunted growth of plant. Plants appear as though covered with white wash. Malathion 0.15% @ 3 ml/lit of water Or Monocrotophaos @ 0.4% 1.25 ml lit of water. Brinjal mite (Doma) Tetranychus telarius Leaves present a blotching appearance, become whitish and brown patches develop. Spray Wettable Sulphur @ 3 to 5 g/lit or Dicofol @ 2.7 ml/lit of water or dust. Sulphur @ 20 to 25 kg/ha. DISEASES Early blight (Akumadu Tegulu) Alternaria solani Scattered dark brown spots on leaflets showing concentric rings may cover large areas of the leaf blade. Severely affected leaves may drop off. The infected fruits turn yellow and drop off Prematurely. Spray with Bordeaux mixture 5:5:50 or Zineb 0.25%. Little leaf (Verri Tegulu) Mycoplasma like Organisms Affected plants produce tiny leaves, which are pale green in color. Plants become bushy due to stimulation of axillary buds in to numerous shoots of small leaves . Flowers are virescent and Sterile. Rouge out diseased plants. Spray any insecticide to control the vector. Mosaic Virus (Virus Tegulu) Infected plants show malformation and yellowing of leaves, stunted growth and some times show concentric rings on the leaf lamina. Infected plants bear less number of flowers and fruits. Rouge out diseased plants. Spray insecticides to control the vector. Manures and Fertilizers A basal dressing of 60kg of p2o5 and k2o are to be applied/ha in the last ploughing. Application of farmyard manure upto 25 tons/ha is desirable. 100kg of Nitrogen per hectare is to be applied in three split doses at 30th, 60th and 75th day after planting. Interculture Weeding, Hoeing and earthing up is to be done along with fertilization. Irrigation The crop requires adequate moisture during the first 70 days . It can withstand drought later to some extent and still revivie upon the soil moisture. In summer interval of 4-5 days and in winter 7-10 days. Harvesting The harvesting starts from 50th day onwards and continues for 50 days in the first phase and a second phase can be obtained after 20-25 days if adequate nutrition and irrigation are provided. The crop can be removed after 110 days if the 2nd flush is not desired, otherwise it can be retained for 150-160 days. The size of the fruit reduces during the summer. The calyx is purple blue and is soft and edible too. During summer the calyx tends to become green.