Eggplant / Aubergine
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Solanaceae Genus: Solanum Species: S. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Dicotyledons, or "dicots", is a name for a group of Flowering plants whose Seed typically has two embryonic leaves or Cotyledons There Asteridae is a Botanical name at the rank of subclass. Circumscription of the subclass has varied with the taxonomic system being The Solanales are an order of Flowering plants included in the asterid group of Dicotyledons Some older sources used the name Polemoniales The Solanaceae is a family of Flowering plants that contains a number of important agricultural plants as well as many toxic plants melongena
Binomial name
Solanum melongena L.

The eggplant, aubergine, or brinjal (Solanum melongena) is a plant of the family Solanaceae (also known as the nightshades) and genus Solanum. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for The Solanaceae is a family of Flowering plants that contains a number of important agricultural plants as well as many toxic plants It bears a fruit of the same name, commonly used as a vegetable in cooking. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. The term " vegetable " generally means the edible parts of Plants The definition of the word is traditional rather than Scientific, however As a night-shade, it is closely related to the tomato and potato and is native to India and Sri Lanka. The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island

It is a delicate perennial often cultivated as an annual. A perennial plant or perennial ( Latin per, "through" annus, "year" is a Plant that lives for more than Botanically an annual plant is a Plant that usually germinates, Flowers and dies in one Year. It grows 40 to 150 cm (16 to 57 in) tall, with large coarsely lobed leaves that are 10 to 20 cm (4-8 in) long and 5 to 10 cm (2-4 in) broad. In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. (Semi-)wild types can grow much larger, to 225 cm (7 ft) with large leaves over 30 cm (12 in) long and 15 cm (6 in) broad. The stem is often spiny. In biology spine or spiny may refer to Spine (botany, needle-like structures in plants Spine (zoology, needle-like structures The flowers are white to purple, with a five-lobed corolla and yellow stamens. A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also A petal (from Ancient Greek petalon "leaf" "thin plate" regarded as a highly modified leaf is one member or part of the corolla The stamen ( Plural stamina or stamens, from Latin stamen meaning "thread of the warp " is the male The fruit is fleshy, less than 3 cm in diameter on wild plants, but much larger in cultivated forms. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology.

The fruit is botanically classified as a berry, and contains numerous small, soft seeds, which are edible, but are bitter because they contain (an insignificant amount of) nicotinoid alkaloids, unsurprising in a close relative of tobacco. The word berry has two meanings one based on a botanical definition the other on common identification A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored Nicotine is an Alkaloid found in the Nightshade family of plants ( Solanaceae) which constitutes approximately 0 This article is about the chemical compounds alkaloids For the Pharmaceutical company in the Republic of Macedonia see Alkaloid (company.

History

Solanum melongena, flower

The eggplant is a food crop grown for its fruit, which can be any size from small to large and pendulous, depending on cultivar, and might be many colors, especially purple, green, or white. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. Eggplant is native to India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country ^[1][2] It has been cultivated in southern and eastern Asia since prehistory but appears to have become known to the Western world no earlier than ca. 1500 CE. The first known written record of the eggplant is found in Qí mín yào shù, an ancient Chinese agricultural treatise completed in 544 CE. ^[3] The numerous Arabic and North African names for it, along with the lack of ancient Greek and Roman names, indicate that it was introduced throughout the Mediterranean area by the Arabs in the early Middle Ages. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language The Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding The scientific name Solanum melongena is derived from a 16th century Arabic term for one kind of eggplant.

The name eggplant developed in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada because the fruits of some 18th century European cultivars were yellow or white and resembled goose or hen's eggs. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The name aubergine in British English developed based on the French aubergine (as derived from Catalan albergínia, from Arabic al-badinjan, from Persian badin-gan, from Sanskrit vatin-ganah. Catalan ˈkætəˌlæn ( català kətəˈla or) is a Romance language, the national and official language of Andorra, and a co-official Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical ). In Indian and South African English, the fruit is known as a "brinjal. " Aubergine and brinjal, with their distinctive br-jn or brn-jl aspects, derive from Arabic and Sanskrit. In the caribbean Trinidad, it also goes by the Latin derivative "melongen". Trinidad ( Spanish: " Trinity " is the largest and most populous of the two major islands and

Because of the eggplant's relationship with the Solanaceae (nightshade) family, it was at one time believed to be poisonous. The Solanaceae is a family of Flowering plants that contains a number of important agricultural plants as well as many toxic plants While it is true that eggplant can generally be eaten without ill effect by most people, for some, the eating of eggplant as well as other edible nightshade plants (tomato, potato, and capsicum/peppers) can indeed be harmful. Some eggplants can be rather bitter, which can irritate the stomach lining and cause gastritis. Some sources, particularly in the natural health community, state that nightshades, including eggplant, can cause or significantly worsen arthritis and should be avoided by those sensitive to them. ^[4]

Cultivated varieties

Three varieties of eggplant

The most widely grown cultivated varieties (cultivars) in Europe and North America today are elongated ovoid, 12-25 cm long (4 1/2 to 9 in) and 6-9 cm broad (2 to 4 in) with a dark purple skin. A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar A much wider range of shapes, sizes and colors is grown in India and elsewhere in Asia. Larger varieties weighing up to a kilogram (2 pounds) grow in the region between the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, while smaller varieties are found elsewhere. Colors vary from white to yellow or green as well as reddish-purple and dark purple. Some cultivars have a color gradient, from white at the stem to bright pink to deep purple or even black. Green or purple cultivars with white striping also exist. Chinese eggplants are commonly shaped like a narrower, slightly pendulous cucumber, and sometimes were called Japanese eggplants in North America. The cucumber ( Cucumis sativus) is a widely cultivated plant in the Gourd family Cucurbitaceae, which includes squash, and in the same

Oval or elongated oval-shaped and black-skinned cultivars include: 'Harris Special Hibush', 'Burpee Hybrid', 'Black Magic', 'Classic', 'Dusky', and 'Black Beauty'. Long, slim cultivars with purple-black skin include: 'Little Fingers', 'Ichiban', 'Pingtung Long', and 'Tycoon'; with green skin: 'Louisiana Long Green' and 'Thai (Long) Green'; with white skin: 'Dourga'. Traditional, white-skinned, oval-shaped cultivars include 'Casper' and 'Easter Egg'. Bicolored cultivars with color gradient include: 'Rosa Bianca', and 'Violetta di Firenze'. Bicolored cultivars with striping include: 'Listada de Gandia' and 'Udumalapet'. In some parts of India, miniature varieties of eggplants (most commonly called Vengan) are very popular.

Cooking

The raw fruit can have a somewhat bitter taste, but becomes tender when cooked and develops a rich, complex flavor. Salting and then rinsing the sliced eggplant (known as "degorging") can soften and remove much of the bitterness. Some modern varieties do not need this treatment, as they are less bitter.   The eggplant is capable of absorbing large amounts of cooking fats and sauces, allowing for very rich dishes, but the salting process will reduce the amount of oil absorbed. The fruit flesh is smooth; as in the related tomato, the numerous seeds are soft and edible along with the rest of the fruit. The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored The thin skin is also edible, so that the eggplant need not be peeled.

Melanzane alla Parmigiana, or Eggplant Parmesan (baked with Parmesan cheese). Eggplant parmesan, melanzane alla parmigiana or parmigiana di melanzane is a common Italian dish which originated in Sicily. Parmigiano-Reggiano is a hard fat Granular cheese, cooked but not pressed named after the producing areas of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena,

The eggplant is used in cuisines from Japan to Spain. Japanese Cuisine has developed over the centuries as a result of many political and social changes Spanish cuisine consists of a variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography culture and climate It is often stewed, as in the French ratatouille, the Italian melanzane alla parmigiana, the Greek moussaka, and Middle-Eastern and South Asian dishes. Ratatouille (ˌrætəˈtuːiː/ /-ˈtwiː French pronunciation ʁatatuj is a traditional French Provençal Stewed Vegetable dish Italian cuisine as a national Cuisine known today has evolved through centuries of social and political changes with its roots traced back to 4th century BC Eggplant parmesan, melanzane alla parmigiana or parmigiana di melanzane is a common Italian dish which originated in Sicily. Moussaka ( μουσακάς South Slavic: мусака /​ musaka, from musakka ultimately from مسقعة musaqqaʿa "chilled" is a traditional The term Middle Eastern cuisine refers to the various Cuisines of the Middle East. South Asian cuisine, also known as Desi cuisine, includes the Cuisines from the Indian subcontinent. It may also be roasted in its skin until charred, so that the pulp can be removed and blended with other ingredients such as lemon, tahini, and garlic, as in the Middle Eastern dish baba ghanoush and the similar Greek dish melitzanosalata or the Indian dishes of Baigan Bhartha or Gojju. Baba ghanoush ( Arabic بابا غنوج bābā ġanūj) is a popular Levantine dish of Eggplant (aubergine mashed and mixed with various The Greek cuisine ( Greek: Ελληνική Κουζίνα is Greece's traditional Cuisine, a typical Mediterranean cuisine Contemporary Baba ghanoush ( Arabic بابا غنوج bābā ġanūj) is a popular Levantine dish of Eggplant (aubergine mashed and mixed with various It can be sliced, battered, and deep-fried, then served with various sauces which may be based on yoghurt, tahini, or tamarind. Deep frying is a Cooking method in which food is submerged in hot oil or Fat. In Cooking, a sauce is Liquid or sometimes semi- Solid food served on or used in preparing other Foods Sauces are not consumed by themselves Yoghurt, yogurt, yoghourt, youghurt or yogourt (see spelling below is a Grilled and mashed eggplant mixed with onions, tomatoes, and spices makes the Indian dish baingan ka bhartha. Organicsalsajpg||thumb|right|Onions used in salsa.]]Cooked onions in frying pan The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family A spice is a dried Seed, Fruit, Root, Bark or vegetative substance used in Nutritionally insignificant quantities as a Food additive The eggplant can also be stuffed with meat, rice, or other fillings and then baked. In modern English usage meat most often refers to Animal tissue used as food mostly Skeletal muscle and associated Fat, but it may also refer Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many In the Caucasus, for example, it is fried and stuffed with walnut paste to make nigvziani badrijani. The Caucasus ( also referred to as North Caucasus) is a geopolitical region located between Europe Asia & Middle East Walnut sauce (also known as walnut paste) is a food paste with origins in Iranian cuisine made primarily from Walnuts and especially popular in Georgian Nigvziani badrijani ( Georgian: ბადრიჯანი ნიგვზით) is a Georgian dish made with fried Eggplant stuffed with spiced

As a native plant, it is widely used in Indian cuisine, for example in sambhar, chutney, curries, and achaar. Sambar or sambhar ( Kannada:ಸಾರು Malayalam: സാമ്പാർ Tamil:சாம்பார் Telugu:సాంబారు Chutney ( Hindi: चटनी Urdu: چٹنی) (British spelling or chatni is a term for a variety of sweet and spicy Condiments, usually Curry is the English description of any of a general variety of spicy dishes best known in Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan Owing to its versatile nature and wide use in both everyday and festive Indian food, it is often described (under the name brinjal) as the 'King of Vegetables'. In one dish, Brinjal is stuffed with ground coconut, peanuts, and masala and then cooked in oil. The Coconut Palm ( Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday Comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M Masala (also transliterated as "massala" ( Hindi: मसाला Urdu: مصالہ‏) is a term used in Indian cuisine

Cultivation

In tropical and subtropical climates, the eggplant can be sown directly into the garden. Eggplant grown in temperate climates fares better when transplanted into the garden after all danger of frost is past. Frost is the solid deposition of Water vapor from saturated air Seeds are typically started eight to ten weeks prior to the anticipated frost-free date.

Many pests and diseases which afflict other solanaceous vegetables, such as tomato, pepper (capsicum), and potato, are also troublesome to eggplants. For this reason, it should not be planted in areas previously occupied by its close relatives. Four years should separate successive crops of eggplants. Common North American pests include the potato beetle, flea beetle, aphids and spider mites. The Colorado potato beetle ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata, also known as the Colorado beetle, ten-striped spearman, the ten-lined potato beetle Flea beetles is a general name applied to the small jumping Beetles of the Leaf beetle family (Chrysomelidae Tetranychus urticae (an animal with over 60 common names including red spider mite and two-spotted spider mite) is one of many species of plant-feeding Many of these can be controlled using Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a bacterium that attacks the soft-bodied larvae. Bacillus thuringiensis is a Gram-positive, soil dwelling Bacterium of the Genus Bacillus. The Bacteria ( singular: bacterium) are a large group of unicellular Microorganisms Typically a few Micrometres in length bacteria have (Adults can be removed by hand, though flea beetles can be especially difficult to control. ) Good sanitation and crop-rotation practices are extremely important for controlling fungal disease, the most serious of which is Verticillium. Verticillium is a Genus of Fungi in the division Ascomycota. Within the genus diverse groups are formed comprising saprotrophs and parasites

Spacing should be 45 cm (18 in) to 60 cm (24 in) between plants, depending on cultivar, and 60 cm to 90 cm (24 to 36 in) between rows, depending on the type of cultivation equipment being used. Mulching will help conserve moisture and prevent weeds and fungal diseases. The flowers are relatively unattractive to bees and the first blossoms often do not set fruit. Bees are flying Insects closely related to Wasps and Ants Bees are a Monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea Hand pollination will improve the set of the first blossoms. Hand pollination (also called "mechanical pollination" is a technique used when natural or Open pollination is insufficient or undesirable Fruits are typically cut from the vine just above the calyx owing to the semi-woody stems.

Statistics

A purple eggplant which has been sliced in half, showing the inside. The flesh surrounding the seeds is already beginning to oxidize and will turn brown just minutes after slicing. Redox (shorthand for reduction-oxidation reaction describes all Chemical reactions in which atoms have their Oxidation number ( Oxidation state

According to the USDA, production of eggplant is highly concentrated, with 93 percent of output coming from seven countries. China is the top producer(55% of world output) and India is second (28%); Egypt, Turkey, and Japan round out the top producing nations. United States is the 20th largest producer. More than 4 million acres (16,000 km²) are devoted to the cultivation of eggplant in the world. ^[5]

Top Ten Eggplant Producers — 2005
Country	Production (Int $1000)	Footnote	Production (MT)	Footnote
People's Republic of China	2,734,280	C	17,030,300	F
India	1,318,888	C	8,200,000	F
Egypt	160,840	C	1,000,000	F
Turkey	141,539	C	880,000
Japan	63,532	C	395,000	F
Italy	60,095	C	373,635
Indonesia	40,566	C	252,216
Sudan	36,993	C	230,000	F
Philippines	29,273	C	182,000	F
Syria	21,231	C	132,000	F
No symbol = official figure,F = FAO estimate, * = Unofficial figure, C = Calculated figure; Production in Int $1000 have been calculated based on 1999-2001 international prices Source: Food And Agricultural Organization of United Nations: Economic And Social Department: The Statistical Devision

Health properties

Studies of the Institute of Biology of São Paulo State University, Brazil (Instituto de Biociências of the UNESP de Botucatu, São Paulo) showed that eggplant is effective in the treatment of high blood cholesterol hypercholesterolemia. UNESP, acronym for Universidade Estadual Paulista (São Paulo State University is a public university system in the State of São Paulo. Botucatu is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil, located 224 São Paulo ( is the largest city in Brazil, with its metropolitan area ranking among the largest urban areas in the world Hypercholesterolemia (literally high blood cholesterol is the presence of high levels of Cholesterol in the blood.

It can block the formation of free radicals, help control cholesterol levels and is also a source of folic acid and potassium. In Chemistry, radicals (often referred to as free radicals) are atoms molecules or ions with Unpaired electrons on an otherwise Open shell Cholesterol is a Lipid found in the Cell membranes and transported in the Blood plasma of all Animals It is an essential component of mammalian Folic acid (also known as Vitamin M and Folacin) and Folate (the Anionic form are forms of the water-soluble Vitamin B9 Potassium (pəˈtæsiəm is a Chemical element. It has the symbol K (kalium from qalīy Atomic number 19 and Atomic mass 39 ^[6]

Eggplant is richer in nicotine than any other edible plant, with a concentration of 100 ng/g (or 0. Nicotine is an Alkaloid found in the Nightshade family of plants ( Solanaceae) which constitutes approximately 0 01mg/100g). However, the amount of nicotine from eggplant or any other food is negligible compared to passive smoking. ^[7] Therefore, 20lbs of eggplant, on average, would contain about the amount of nicotine in an average cigarette.

See also

Image gallery

Matti Gulla	Japanese eggplant	Japanese eggplant flower
fruit		Purple eggplants
Eggplant flower	The flowers of the Thai eggplant	The fruit of the Thai eggplant. Eggplant salads and appetizers are the Salads and Appetizers made primarily of Eggplants ( Aubergines) Baba ghanoush ( Arabic بابا غنوج bābā ġanūj) is a popular Levantine dish of Eggplant (aubergine mashed and mixed with various Romanian cuisine is diverse It blends different dishes from several traditions with which it has come into contact but it also maintains its own character Escalivada is a typical preparation of Catalan cuisine and Valencian cuisine that consists of several types of grilled vegetables such as Eggplants (genus Catalan cuisine refers to the cuisine of Catalonia in Spain. It may also refer to the shared cuisine of the four Catalan-speaking regions of Catalonia Moussaka ( μουσακάς South Slavic: мусака /​ musaka, from musakka ultimately from مسقعة musaqqaʿa "chilled" is a traditional Turkish cuisine is largely the heritage of Ottoman cuisine, which can be described as a fusion and refinement of Central Asian, Middle Eastern and The Thai eggplant (มะเขือ makʰɯːa also known as Kermit eggplant is a variety of Eggplant used primarily in Thai cuisine. The Thai eggplant (มะเขือ makʰɯːa also known as Kermit eggplant is a variety of Eggplant used primarily in Thai cuisine. The white residue on the leaves is common.	A long slender eggplant.

References

1. ^ Tsao and Lo in "Vegetables: Types and Biology". Handbook of Food Science, Technology, and Engineering by Yiu H. Hui (2006). CRC Press. ISBN 1574445510.
2. ^ Doijode, S. D. (2001). Seed storage of horticultural crops (pp 157). Haworth Press: ISBN 1560229012
3. ^ Fuchsia Dunlop, Revolutionary Chinese Cookbook: Recipes from Hunan Province, Ebury Press, 2006. Random House Inc is the world's largest English-language general trade book publisher Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
4. ^ Childers, N. F. (PhD) & Margoles, M. S. (MD). (1993). An apparent relation of nightshades (Solanaceae) to arthritis. Journal of Neurological and Orthopedic Medical Surgery. 12: 227-231. (article provided on-line by the Arthritis Nightshades Research Foundation | http://www.noarthritis.com/research.htm
5. ^ Vegetables and Melons Outlook/VGS-318 (PDF). Economic Research Service 23. USDA (2006-12-14). Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Retrieved on 2007-04-24. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1479 BC - Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt, although power effectively shifts to Hatshepsut (according to
6. ^ Health24.com - Aubergine
7. ^ Edward F. Domino, Erich Hornbach, Tsenge Demana, The Nicotine Content of Common Vegetables, The New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 329:437 August 5, 1993 Number 6

External links

• Aubergine: Plants for a Future database
• Solanum melongena L. on Solanaceae Source - Images, specimens and a full list of scientific synonyms previously used to refer to the eggplant.