Genetically Modified Parthenocarpic Eggplants: Improved Fruit Productivity Under Both Greenhouse and Open Field Cultivation - Genetic Engineering: Recent Developments in Applications - page 116

Table 2. Eggplant production of parthenocarpic hybrids and their respective controls at summertime.
Consisting of ten harvests, the total production of P1 hybrids was 37% higher
than control C1 eggplants (Table 2). The difference in total yield between P1 and
control C1 hybrids was statistically significant and due both to the higher number
of fruits/plant and to the increased weight of GM fruits. It is noteworthy to point
out that when considered individually, neither trait (number of fruits/plant or
fruit weight) showed statistically significant differences between the GM and un-
transformed plants (Table 2). Although higher in P10 hybrids in comparison to
its control C10, the total yield (the number and average weight of the fruits) was
not significantly different between the two. During the whole harvesting period,
fruits from both P1 and P10 parthenocarpic hybrids were always seedless (Fig. 2),
whilst control fruits always had seeds. Therefore, under open field cultivation, the
DefH9-iaaM gene had a positive influence on fruit quality, as GM DefH9-iaaM
fruits were always seedless. Fruit quality affects the economic value of eggplant
production.
Figure 2. Eggplant fruits from the open field summer trial. Left, uncut and cut fruit of the transgenic hybrid
P10; Right, cut and uncut fruit of the C10 control hybrid.