Assessing The Floral Biology and Pollination Ecology of Eggplant

BONDOC PENISULA AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL
Brgy. Santa Rosa, Mulanay, Quezon
Assessing the Floral Biology and Pollination Ecology of Eggplant
(Solanum melongena L.) in Brgy. Madulao,
Catanauan, Quezon
Statement of the Problem
This study will tend to document the Floral Biology and Pollination Ecology of
eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). Specifically, it will seek to answer the following
questions:
1. What are the description for Floral Biology of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)?
2. What are the descriptions of Pollination Ecology for eggplant
(Solanum melongena L.) in terms of the following:
2.1 Open Pollination
2.2 Hand Pollination
2.3 Close/Bagged Pollination
3. What is the percentage of fruit onset of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)?
Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics
“In BPAHS, we aspire and build our dreams together”

Introduction
Eggplant is an old world specie, unlike other solanaceous crops which are native
to the world (Gurbuz, N., Uluisik, S., Frary, A., Frary A., and Doganlar, S., (2018).
Although various eggplant species are grown around the world, the Solanum
melongena is the most widely cultivated. Also called aubergine or Guinea squash,
eggplant is a tender perennial plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), grown for its
edible fruits (Petruzzello, M., 2015). It is often grown as an annual and has an upright
bushy stem with spines. Large, oval, and lobed leaves. The fruit is a huge egg-shaped
berry with a glossy surface that ranges in color from dark purple to red, pink, or
yellowish, and is sometimes striped with green and white. In order for it to bear fruit, just
like other plants, it must first undergo pollination as pollination is essential for plant
sexual reproduction. The absence of flowers means the absence of fruits. The smaller
the number of flowers, the lower the yield can be expected. Different plant species use
a variety of methods to ensure the flowers are successfully pollinated and would
produce a hundred percent fruit onset. In this study, the researchers will be utilizing the
three pollination techniques; open, hand and close pollination to further assess the
pollination Ecology of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.).
The eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), locally known as talong is one of the
most popular vegetable in the Philippines grown solely for domestic consumption.
Eggplants are commonly grown with the economical gain as primary purpose. But aside
from that, they are also after the health benefits of it. Despite not being the most
nutritious vegetable, it does give a decent supply of potassium and fiber. It also has
antioxidants like vitamin A and C, which help protect your cells against damage. It’s also
high in natural plant chemicals called polyphenols; which may help cells do a better job
of processing sugar if you have diabetes (Watson, S., 2021). The chlorogenic acid is the

most prevalent phenolic component in eggplant fruits; having a heart- healthy impact.
The crop can be grown any time of the year in areas with good irrigation and drainage.
First planting is usually done in October to February; second planting in May to
September. Eggplant grows best in sandy loam to clay loam soils (Magsasaka, J.,
2021). Farmers need improved eggplant varieties for sustainable production and
adaptation to climate change challenges. Because eggplant has a relatively long growth
period, it is more exposed than other vegetable crops to a broad range of plant
diseases, pests, nematodes, and weeds (Rotino et. al., 1997). Spacing generally should
be 45 centimeters (18 inches) to 60 centimeters (24 inches) between plants, depending
on cultivar, and 60 centimeters to 90 centimeters (24 to 36 inches) between rows,
depending on the type of cultivation equipment being used. Mulching will help conserve
moisture and prevent weeds and fungal diseases. Fruits are typically cut from the vine
just above the calyx owing to the semi-woody stems.
The study's findings will benefit many people, particularly farmers, because
eggplant is one of the most essential, economical, and popular vegetable crops grown
and consumed not only in the Philippines, but across Asia. The increased demand for
eggplant production supports the necessity for more effective pollination methods. Thus,
approaches derived from the findings of this study will be able to benefit farmers and
consumers even more. They will be advised on what should be prioritized while growing
eggplants to promote pollination ecology. This investigation will assist the researchers
discover new concepts that other researchers were unable to investigate. As a result, a
new theory on the Floral Biology and Pollination ecology of eggplant (Solanum
melongena L.) will be developed. Therefore, assessing this situation is beneficial in one
way or another.

Review of Related Literature on Floral Biology and Pollination Ecology of

eggplant (Solanum melongena L.).
This part presents the different literatures and studies that helps in familiarizing
informations relevant and related to the present study.
Floral biology of Solanum melongena
Eggplant, brinjal or aubergine (Solanum melongena L.) is together with tomato

among the most widely known edible fruits of the Solanaceae family (Daunay, 2008).
Eggplants are thought to be derived from the wild African species, Solanum incanum.
The scarlet eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.) and the gboma eggplant (Solanum
macrocarpon L.), grown and consumed in Africa and represent an important source of
genetic variation (Daunay et.al., 2001b).
Eggplants have a strong and well-developed root system. The stem is 0.5–2 m
tall and may often be spiny. Leaves are large (10–20 cm), lanceolate, and coarsely
lobulated. Most varieties bloom in three to five flowers bunches. Flowers are large,
white, or purple-white and have a five-lobed corolla and large anthers (Zaro, M.J.,
Vicente, A., Ortiz, C.M., Chaves, A.R., 2015). The eggplants begin flowering after
forming – depending on a variety – 9 to 12 assimilation leaves, i.e. about 70–90 days
after emergence. The eggplant flowers are hermaphrodite; they are single or arranged
in inflorescences composed of 2–7 flowers each, and show positive geotropism [Konys
1993]. The flower buds develop in the corners of the same leaves as vegetative buds.
The blooms of eggplant are quite near to one another during the start of the flowering
period. When internodes are longer, the distances between flowers also increase [Shah
and Patel 1970]. Results achieved by Prasad and Prakash [1968] in study upon

flowering biology of four eggplant varieties indicate that young flower buds are oval or
conical in shape and green in color. In practice, the time of their opening is the same.
The flowers bloom between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. At 2 o’clock in the afternoon, it begins to
close, and late at night, it entirely closes. That cycle continues for 1-3 days, with the
flowers closing just partially the following days. The way flowers open and close is
usually determined by their age and environmental conditions such as air temperature
and relative humidity.
The eggplant flowers are quite large 3–5 cm in diameter. The corolla consists of
5–10 accreted petals of purple, pink, or white color depending on a variety. Number of
stamens is 5–7. Filaments are short, 6–20 bicameral anthers are yellow and arranged
around pistil [Mc Gregor 1976]. When a flower blooms, the pollen grains and germ sack
are fully formed. The anthers break in upper direction 15–30 minutes after flower
opening. The pollen is quite heavy. It can be spontaneously transferred for up to 1 m
distance. The pollination duration depends on air temperature and humidity [Prasad and
Prakash 1968]. The eggplant fruits are multi-chamber berries of different shapes.
Depending on a variety, they may be: spherical, through oval, ovoid, piriform, to
elongated and spiral. Black-purple fruits, in the skin of which anthocyanins are present,
dominate in cultivation. There are also white-colored varieties, the skin of which does
not contain those pigments. At the stage of utility ripeness, fruits are light yellow to
black-purple, while brown-yellow or grey-green at the physiological ripeness stage
[George 1985]. The skin and parenchyma color is associated with the fruit color. When
the skin is colorless, fruit’s parenchyma is white, yellow, or light green. When skin
contains pigments, the parenchyma is usually dark – purple. Large, five-section hairy
and thorny corolla strongly accreted with the ovary, which makes nursery operations,
fruit harvest, and storage difficult, is characteristic for the eggplant fruits [Krug 1991].
Fruit’s color, sometimes its growth, depend on the flower’s localization in an
inflorescence. Side flowers characterized by slower growth rate and less intensive color,
set smaller and lighter fruits. Up to 1-25 fruits, about 30-2000 g each, may be set on a
single eggplant plant.
Floral biology includes the morphology, anthesis, and the mood of pollination of
flowers. Proper knowledge of mode of reproduction of the plant is important in plant
breeding, because it determine the breeding methods to be employed on the crop.
Studying the plant’s anthesis helps to perform artificial pollination.

Pollination Ecology of Solanum melongena
Pollination is one of nature’s most engaging process. It is how flowering plants

reproduce. This process involves transferring pollen from male parts to female parts of
the same plant or another plant. For some plants, the movement of pollen grains
requires the participation and action of another organism, a pollinator at that. Plants and
their pollinator builds a reciprocal relationship, each benefiting from one another. In
plant-pollination relationship, pollinators benefit by ingesting food rewards provided by
the flower(s), mainly nectar and pollen. In turn, plants benefit from the pollination
process; the activity where the pollinator transfers the pollen as it moves from one
flower to another in search of food. That pollen movement allows plants to reproduce
and exchange genetic information with other plants (Galen & Storks, n.d.). But it does
not end there, different techniques are applied to ensure a more success of the
pollination.
Open Pollination refers to the technique in which the plants under this set up are
pollinated naturally- be it by insect pollinators, wind or human hands. This is the most
common technique used by many. In this set up, the researchers leave the flower as it
is and see how these pollinators affect the flowers biology. Contributions from the males
were uncontrolled in this set up, thus allowing control on only half of the resulting
progeny genome. On the other hand, close pollination or bagging is a way of shielding
emasculated flowers from unwanted pollen grains. Despite the fact that the flower is
obscured by a bag, it achieves receptivity. The bags or nets with varying pores
diameters will either restrict all pollination or allow pollen or small pollinators to access
the flower while preventing the larger pollinators from doing so. To assess the degree
and mode of self-incompatibility, flowers need to be bagged to exclude all pollination
vectors, including the windblown pollens. If fruit is produced from flowers that have been
bagged and emasculated by careful excision of the anthers before they dehisced, it

provides evidence that the flowers can reproduce asexually (parthenocarpy). If flowers
do not yield fruit, but flowers that are left bagged intact set seed, then they are capable
of autonomous self-pollination through physical means (i.e., pollen grains dropping on to
stigmas), and they are self-compatible (Pattermore, D.E.,2017).
An eggplant is usually wind pollinated, meaning it does not rely on insects like
bees and moths to pollinate it. A pollination problem may occur when weather
conditions are either very et, overly humid, or excessively hot (Rhoades, H., 2021).
When air is very humid, moisture causes the pollen of the eggplant flower to be very
sticky and it cannot fall down unto the pistil to pollinate the flower. When the weather is
too hot, the pollen becomes inactive because the plant thinks that it cannot support the
stress of an additional fruit along with the hot weather. In a sense, the plant aborts the
blossom as not to stress itself further. If eggplant is a suspect for the flowers falling off,
use hand pollination, which is the manual transfer of pollen from the stamen or male
part of the flower to the pistil or female part. A cotton bud can be used to do this; just
brush off the tip of the cotton bud on the male part of the flower then rub it against the
female part. The purpose of hand pollination is to assist in the reproductive process of
the plant (Miller, L., 2020). Hand pollination achieves nearly a 100% fruit set, producing
larger fruit containing more seeds (Patterson, 1989).
Wilting often occurs 24 hours after the flower has been pollinated (Megan, 2019).
Also, in female blossoms, the ovule will began to bulge as it produce fruit. Although it is
dependent on the variety of the eggplant, most cultivars of the eggplant will grow and
develop fruit 50 to 80 days after the flowers bloom and had been pollinated.

III. Methodology
This section describes the research method. It focuses on the method utilized to
perform this study, which includes research design, demographic and sample, research
instrument, data collection method, and data analysis.
A. Research Design
Research is a scientific approach of answering a research question, solving a
problem or generating new knowledge through a systematic and orderly collection,
organization, and analysis of information with an ultimate goal of making the research
useful in decision-making (Kabir, S., 2016).
This study will be exhibiting a quantitative method with the experimental as its
approach. According to Harland, D.J., n.d., “Experimental research is a study that
strictly adheres to a scientific research design. It includes a hypothesis, a variable, that

can be manipulated by the researcher/s, and variables that can be measured,
calculated and compared. Most importantly, experimental design is completed in a
controlled environment.” The researcher/s collects data and results will either be
consistent and supporting the hypothesis, or rejects it. In this case, the experimental
research is done in a garden with the eggplant flowers as population.
The hallmark of experimental research is randomly assigning participants to
different treatments (Sauro, J., 2013). There are two categories of experimental
research namely true experimental design and quasi-experimental designs. Like a true
experiment, a quasi-experimental design aims to establish a cause-and-effect
relationship between an independent and dependent variable. However, unlike a true
experiment, a quasi-experiment does not rely on random assignment. Instead, subjects
are assigned to groups based on non-random criteria.
Quasi-experimental design is a useful tool in situations where true experiments
cannot be used for ethical or practical reasons. It has many types: nonequivalent groups
design, regression discontinuity, and more; but the researchers will be focusing more on
natural experiments type— because that’s what we’ll be utilizing. In both laboratory and
field experiments, researchers normally control which group the subjects are assigned
to. In a natural experiment, an external event or situation (“nature”) results in the
random or random-like assignment of subjects to the treatment group. Even though


some use random assignments, natural experiments are not considered to be true
experiments because they are observational in nature. Although the researchers have
no control over the independent variable, they can exploit this event after the fact to
study the effect of the treatment (Thomas, L., 2020).
B. Population and Sample
A population is the entire group that you want to draw conclusions about,
while a sample is the specific group that you will collect data from. The size of the
sample is always less than the total size of the population (Bhandari, P., 2020). In
research, a population doesn't always refer to people, just like in this study. The
population here is the eggplant tree and its blossoms as the samples. They are
located at the backyard of one of the researchers’ house in Brgy. Madulao,
Catanauan,Quezon.
C. Variables
A variable is either a result of some force or is itself the force that causes a
change in another variable(s). Variables are given a special name that only applies

to experimental investigation; these are called dependent and independent variables
respectively (Dr. McLeod, S., 2019).
1. Independent variable is the variable the experimenter manipulates
or changes, and is assumed to have a direct effect on the
dependent variable.
2. Dependent variable is the variable being tested and measured
an experiment, and is ‘dependent’ on the independent variable.
Independent Dependent Controlled

Variable(s) Variable(s) Variable(s)
Open Pollination Flower Type of flower used

development
Hand Pollination Light Source
Percentage of fruit
Close onset Location
Pollination/Bagging
technique

D. Data and Data Source
Any information that has been collected, observed, generated, or created to
validate original study findings is referred to as research data. Although most data
are digital, non-digital media such as laboratory notebooks and diaries are also
included. The data of this study is the result of the observation about the floral
biology and pollination ecology of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), as well as the
effect of the pollination techniques on the percentage of fruit onset.
Data sources are mostly the results of the observation done and the recent
studies and other materials on the internet as basis.

Input-Process-Output
Input Output
Process
a) Eggplant blossoms a) Photos of the
1. Select the flowers flowers in different
b) Pollination to be studied. set ups.
techniques 2. Choose three
b) Result of the
b1. Open pollination blossoms for each
observation as to
set up (total of 9
b2. Hand pollination which is the best
flowers).
pollination technique
3. Observe and
b3. Close pollination to be used in
identify which type
growing eggplant;
of pollination
which set up
technique suits the
achieves a higher
flower best.
percentage of fruit
4. Identify pollinators
yielding.
as well as their
effect on the
pollination ecology
of eggplant.
5. Determine the
percentage of fruit
onset per setup.

IV. Results and Discussion
Results
This section contains detailed presentation and discussion of data analysis and
the results of this study. The findings are presented under the following major headings:
Floral Biology and Pollination Ecology; which is subdivided into open, hand and close
pollination.
At the onset of bud formation, nine (9) buds—three(3) per set up, had been
marked with A (open), B (hand-pollinated) and C (bagged) tags. This is to decide the
period of the development, the opening of the buds and time of anthesis. The time of
flowering which include bud formation, flower commencing and flower fall had been
observed.

(a) OPEN POLLINATION
a b c d
e f g h
i j k l
m n o p
q r s t
Figure 1.
Figure 1. Plant and fruit development of Solanum melongena L. during open pollination
(a) flower buds enlarge, (b-f) gradually open buds and begins to flower (day time), (g-l)
flowers gradually close at night, (m-n) buds open where sepals split to reveal flowers, (o)
eggplant flowers at the top of the capsule showing petals opened, anthers and stigmas,
(p-q) fading of the petals while the sepals are still attached, (r) completely wilted petals
and fruit / hips develop at the base, (s-t) gradual development of fruit / hips and seeds /
fruit.

(b) HAND POLLINATION
a b c d
e f g h
i j k l

m n o p
Figure 2.
Figure 2. Anthesis and fruit development of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) using
hand pollination. (a) execution of hand pollination while the flower is half-opened, (b) fully
expanded petals, (c-g) gradual to fully closing of the petals at night, (h-j) opening of the
petals at daytime, (k) gradual wilting of the flower, (l-n) completely wilted petals and fruit /
hips develop at the base, (o-p) gradual development of fruit.

( c) CLOSED/ BAGGED POLLINATION
Figure 3.

Figure 3. Anthesis and fruit development of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) using
bagging technique. (a-c) flower buds still close, (d) gradual opening of the flower, (e)
fully expanded petals, (f) gradual wilting of the petals, (g) completely wilted petals and
fruit / hips develop at the base, (h-l) gradual development of fruit / hips and seeds / fruit.
Figure 3.1.
Figure 3.1.


Discussion
Anthesis become found among 6 a.m. to eight a.m everyday. During this time, the
petals are nonetheless enclosed with inside the bud for three (3) days. The petals start
to reveal because the bud opens for 4-6 days. The sepals separate because the plants
opens till the seventh day. After the flower has been pollinated, the corolla, stamen, and
fashion remained till the hip bulged. The calyx remains intact and bulged because of
growing hip and achene. The following morning (eighth day), the corolla withers. The
hips advanced three (3) days after anthesis. At this stage, the corolla collapsed and
became brownish in color. The hip keeps to expand in addition to the achene inside.
The calyx nonetheless connected and the corolla become indifferent which indicates the
improvement of the fruit (hip).

Assessing The Floral Biology and Pollination Ecology of Eggplant

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BONDOC PENISULA AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL

Brgy. Santa Rosa, Mulanay, Quezon

Assessing the Floral Biology and Pollination Ecology of Eggplant

(Solanum melongena L.) in Brgy. Madulao,

Statement of the Problem

2. What are the descriptions of Pollination Ecology for eggplant

(Solanum melongena L.) in terms of the following:

2.1 Open Pollination

2.2 Hand Pollination

2.3 Close/Bagged Pollination

3. What is the percentage of fruit onset of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)?

Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics

“In BPAHS, we aspire and build our dreams together”

“In BPAHS, we aspire and build our dreams together”

Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics

“In BPAHS, we aspire and build our dreams together”

Review of Related Literature on Floral Biology and Pollination Ecology of

Floral biology of Solanum melongena

Eggplant, brinjal or aubergine (Solanum melongena L.) is together with tomato

“In BPAHS, we aspire and build our dreams together”

“In BPAHS, we aspire and build our dreams together”

Pollination Ecology of Solanum melongena

Pollination is one of nature’s most engaging process. It is how flowering plants

“In BPAHS, we aspire and build our dreams together”

Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics

“In BPAHS, we aspire and build our dreams together”

instrument, data collection method, and data analysis.

Research is a scientific approach of answering a research question, solving a

problem or generating new knowledge through a systematic and orderly collection,

useful in decision-making (Kabir, S., 2016).

approach. According to Harland, D.J., n.d., “Experimental research is a study that

strictly adheres to a scientific research design. It includes a hypothesis, a variable, that

Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics

“In BPAHS, we aspire and build our dreams together”

calculated and compared. Most importantly, experimental design is completed in a

research is done in a garden with the eggplant flowers as population.

The hallmark of experimental research is randomly assigning participants to

experiment, a quasi-experimental design aims to establish a cause-and-effect

relationship between an independent and dependent variable. However, unlike a true

experiment, a quasi-experiment does not rely on random assignment. Instead, subjects

are assigned to groups based on non-random criteria.

Quasi-experimental design is a useful tool in situations where true experiments

to. In a natural experiment, an external event or situation (“nature”) results in the

random or random-like assignment of subjects to the treatment group. Even though

“In BPAHS, we aspire and build our dreams together”

study the effect of the treatment (Thomas, L., 2020).

B. Population and Sample

located at the backyard of one of the researchers’ house in Brgy. Madulao,

“In BPAHS, we aspire and build our dreams together”

respectively (Dr. McLeod, S., 2019).

1. Independent variable is the variable the experimenter manipulates

or changes, and is assumed to have a direct effect on the

2. Dependent variable is the variable being tested and measured

an experiment, and is ‘dependent’ on the independent variable.

Independent Dependent Controlled

Open Pollination Flower Type of flower used

“In BPAHS, we aspire and build our dreams together”

D. Data and Data Source

Any information that has been collected, observed, generated, or created to

effect of the pollination techniques on the percentage of fruit onset.

studies and other materials on the internet as basis.

Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics

“In BPAHS, we aspire and build our dreams together”