Proximate Composition and Bioactive Compounds in Diverse Eggplant Genotypes

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an important solanaceous crop of tropics and sub-tropics, having high production potential, and also a rich source of nutrients, particularly, carbohydrates, proteins, dietary fibre and vitamins like thiamin, niacin, pantothenic acid and folic acid, minerals like calcium, iron, potash, zinc, copper and manganese as well as bioactive compounds. However, eggplant is available in diverse shape and colour and consumer preference varies and the nutrient composition is different. In this investigation, we worked out the proximate nutrient compounds (on dry weight basis) and the bioactive compounds (on a fresh weight basis) in twenty diverse eggplant genotypes varying in colour and shape. Moisture content in the fruits ranged from 71.54 to 91.36%, while carbohydrate content from 2.80 to 6.82%, crude protein 16.98 to 31.85%, nitrogen 2.49 to 4.35%, phosphorous 0.29 to 0.51%, potassium 1.65 to 4.54%, calcium 0.83 to 0.35%, iron 106.21 to 235.34 mg/kg, manganese 89.01 to 245.54 mg/kg, copper 18.73 to 98.56 mg/kg and zinc 60.73 to 75.77 mg/kg, each on dry weight basis. Biochemical parameters like total soluble solids (TSS) ranged from 1.27 to 3.94 °Brix, total sugar content 2.26 to 4.65%, ascorbic acid 0.66 to 3.53 mg/100 g, total anthocyanin content 0.35 to 18.85 mg/100 g FW, total chlorophyll 0.11 to 2.70 mg/100 g FW, total phenol 1.03 to 15.65 mg catechol equivalent/100 g FW, total antioxidant 1.16 to 2.26 µmol Trolox equivalent/g FW and radical scavenging activity 50.52 to 96.48%. Proximate nutrients were highest in Pusa Uttam, Pant Rituraj and BRBL-01, quality parameters in BRBL-07 and 71-19, while bioactive compounds were highest in Pant Rituraj, Pusa Purple Long, Pusa Purple Cluster and BRBL-01. These genotypes may be utilized in future breeding programmes for developing effective and nutritive cultivars.