Flower morphology and number of aubergine (Solanum melongena L.) in relation to fruit load and auxin application

The effect of fruit load and auxin application on the flower morphology and flower number of two aubergine cultivars was investigated under greenhouse conditions. The flowers of plants that did not set fruit showed only minor fluctuations in flower and pistil mass, and in style and anther length. Ho wever, when plants were allowed to set fruit by pollination, flower and pis til mass, and style (but not anther) length were significantly reduced duri ng the stage of fruit growth. Style length was also reduced in flowers form ed after fruit had been set parthenocarpically by the application of auxin (IAA), but there was no significant effect of IAA on style length in the ab sence of fruit development. The number of flowers was reduced in the presen ce of IAA (with or without fruit set), or following fruit set by pollinatio n. It is suggested that fruit load and development affect flower mass and s tyle length of aubergine whereas auxin influences the number of flowers. (C ) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.