Profiling the Main Cell Wall Polysaccharides of the Cultivated Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Using CoMPP and ELISA

The eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is a commercially important fruit crop; however, research on the cell wall polysaccharide composition is limited. The aim of this study was to provide a plant cell wall profile for eggplant for future research and breeding efforts. A set of cell wall-directed probes was used on three representative eggplant varieties: two genetic lines, 305E40 and 67/3, as well as one commercial cultivar, Black Beauty. Leaf, stem, and root material was analyzed in the case of 305E40 and 67/3, while fruit (skin and flesh) and leaves (at five stages of development) were analyzed in the case of Black Beauty. The results confirmed the presence of a broad range of pectin and hemicellulose epitopes. The presence of AGP and extensin epitopes in eggplant tissues was also confirmed. An ELISA, automated data processing, CoMPP and GC-MS for eggplant cell wall characterization provide a basis for analyzing other commercially important crops to identify breeding targets. These methods are powerful tools for monitoring postharvest fruit quality “texture” and studying plant stress responses.