Genetic Relationship and Introduction Pathways of Eggplant Cultivars Originating in Akita Prefecture

In Akita Prefecture, traditional eggplant cultivars such as ‘Aradokoro’, ‘Sekiguchi’, ‘Senboku Maru’, and ‘Tomizawa’ are cultivated, but the relationship and history of these cultivars with other traditional Japanese cultivars are not known. Cluster and population structure analyses of 46 traditional Japanese eggplant cultivars, including these four cultivars, and three closely-related species were used to elucidate the genetic relationships and introduction pathways. As a result, we could not identify any cultivars genetically related to cultivars in Akita. However, the population structure of the cultivars in Akita revealed that their ancestors may have arisen from varieties west of Kinki and Kyushu and been introduced to Akita after genetic exchange with cultivars from Niigata and Osaka. Traditional cultivars are not only a potential genetic resource, but also an asset that has been passed down through the history and culture of the region, so it is important to pass them on to the next generation.