Genetically Modified Parthenocarpic Eggplants: Improved Fruit Productivity Under Both Greenhouse and Open Field Cultivation - Genetic Engineering: Recent Developments in Applications - page 114

and growth. During this period, the average minimum and maximum tempera-
tures ranged from 7° to 17°C in southern Italy (Pontecagnano) and from 14° to
17°C in central Italy (Monsampolo). The transgenic parthenocarpic hybrids gave
a significantly higher yield, on the average a six-fold increase during early produc-
tion, in comparison to their controls (Table 1). The increment in the number
of fruits per plant and the higher average weight of the fruits were the main
causes of the increased early spring production of the parthenocarpic hybrids.
The suboptimal/adverse environmental conditions did not affect the growth of
GM parthenocarpic fruits and the average fruit weight was significantly higher
in the GM eggplants in comparison to untransformed controls. The traditional
parthenocarpic cultivar Talina produced fruits with an average weight similar to
those of GM eggplant fruits (Table 1). However, due to the higher number of
fruits per plant, the productivity of the transgenic parthenocarpic hybrids was
also increased, by an average of five-fold, when compared to cv Talina (Table 1).
During the whole harvesting period, the GM fruits were always seedless (Fig. 1)
and were normal in both size and shape.
Figure 1. Eggplant fruits of the transgenic parthenocarpic hybrid P1 from the greenhouse spring trial. Left: fruit
at the stage of commercial ripeness; middle: an overripe eggplant fruit from a border plant; right: a longitudinally
cut fruit showing the complete absence of seeds.