Eggplant

• Eggplants are a delicious, colorful and nutritious addition to any garden. They are most appropriately classified as a berry and are in the same family as potatoes, tomatoes and peppers. Still, they can be tricky to grow because they require plenty of heat. A bit of cold soil can reduce the ability of an eggplant to aggressively produce.
  
  

Location

• Eggplants can be found all over the world. They thrive in warm climates and many interesting and delicious types grow in Turkey, Africa, Italy, Asia and even in the United States (see Resource 1).
  
  

Diseases

• A fungus found in soil causes Verticillium Wilt. It frequently infects woody plants, but in the eggplant it causes discoloration and wilting of the eggplant tissue and leaves. Eggplants affected by this disease are usually stunted and less likely to produce (see Resources 1 and 2).
  
  Phomopsis Blight thrives in warm, wet weather conditions. Brown and gray spots affect all plant parts. At first the eggplant leaves turn yellow and die. The fruit is watery and soft. The fruit then becomes dark and dried late in the disease's development (see Resource 1 and 2).
  
  The fungus called Sclerotium rolfsii causes Southern Blight, which softens the stem and the top of the eggplant. Soil surrounding this plant is then covered in fungus reproduction and mold (see Resource 2).
  
  Tomato-Tobacco Virus Disease is a widespread plant disease. Unlike most diseases from fungi spores or bacteria, the virus must enter a plant through external wounds. These could be from indelicate handling or insect chewing. Eggplants are affected similarly to tomatoes and become discolored, have blemishes, are dwarfed or have blistered leaves.
  
  Bacterial Wilt causes plants to die shortly after they begin to wilt. You can tell that bacterial wilt has infected your eggplant if you cut the stems crosswise and notice ooze from them when they are placed in water (see Resource 1).
  
  

Varieties

• Different eggplant varieties are more susceptible to certain diseases than others. For example, the Irene and Nadia varieties are resistant to the common Verticillium Wilt. Birgah, Black Bell, Blacknite, Classy Chassis, Dusky, Epic, Megal and Vittoria are all eggplant varieties resistant to the Tomato-Tobacco Mosaic Virus. Investigate which diseases are common in your area when choosing a variety for your garden. Choosing a disease-resistant kind will make your season much easier.
  
  

Treatment

• Using resistant varieties of eggplants is the best way to thwart infection, but it is not always possible. Sterilizing soil naturally using solar energy or steam can be effective. Herbicides also sterilize soil-originating diseases. In bacterial-based diseases, rotating the crops with ones that do not bear fruit should help eradicate the infection. Sometimes grafting infected plants onto resistant varieties can save infected plants. If your eggplant becomes diseased once, do not get discouraged. Take steps to prevent it and try again!