The Influence of the Variety on Some Quality Characteristics of Eggplant Fruits Grown in High Tunnels

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is a nutritionally and economically important vegetable crop whose performance under protected cultivation is strongly influenced by genotype and environmental conditions. This study evaluated the productivity and fruit quality of eight eggplant cultivars and hybrids (Luiza, Dr?gaica, Belona, Sharapova F?, Aragon F?, Barcelona F?, Habana F?, and Black Pearl F?) grown in high tunnels over two consecutive seasons (2023–2024). The research aimed to assess average fruit weight, total fruit yield per plant, soluble dry matter content, carbohydrate concentration, and nitrate accumulation, while examining genotype × environment (G×E) interactions. Significant differences were observed among genotypes for all measured parameters. Over the two-year average, Sharapova F? produced the heaviest fruits (398 g/fruit), while Dr?gaica recorded the highest yield per plant (3072.5 g/plant). Black Pearl F? demonstrated excellent stability and balance, achieving high fruit weight (347 g), strong yield (2944 g/plant), elevated dry matter (7.3%), and the highest carbohydrate content (3.85 g/100 g fresh weight). Traditional varieties such as Luiza and Dr?gaica accumulated significantly lower nitrate levels (155 and 170 mg/kg, respectively) compared to modern hybrids, offering a safer profile for consumption. Dry matter and carbohydrate contents were generally higher in 2024, indicating favorable climatic effects on quality traits, whereas notable crossover G×E interactions affected yield stability. These findings highlight the superior performance of specific hybrids under high-tunnel conditions and underscore the importance of variety selection for optimizing both productivity and nutritional quality in protected cultivation systems. Black Pearl F? emerged as a promising balanced genotype for commercial production and future breeding programs.