F. Yousefi - Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran.
F. Soltani - Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran.
S. A. Lalehparvar - Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran.
R. Stevens - Genetics and Improvement of Fruits and Vegetables Unit, INRAE, ۸۴۱۴۰ Montfavet, France.

The presence of genetic diversity leads to better adaptation of plants to different environments and enables researchers to select superior genotypes adapted to given culture conditions. In order to estimate the genetic diversity of eggplant, ۲۲ accessions were obtained from the INRAe vegetable germplasm center and the National Plant Gene Bank of Iran and were planted in horticultural science station of University of Tehran, Karaj, in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The number of flowers per plant and number of fruits per plant were higher in the MM۰۰۰۰۷ and FLT۰۲ accessions, respectively. The maximum leaf area (۱۹۰ cm۲ plant-۱) was recorded for MM ۰۱۵۹۷. Accessions FLT۴۶, MM ۰۰۶۴, MM ۰۰۱۰۸ bis MM ۰۱۵۹۷ and MM ۰۱۰۱۰ revealed high variations in root characters. Higher number of root tips and maximum number of roots were assigned for FLT۴۶, and average root orientation and steep root angle frequency for MM ۰۱۵۹۷ and MM ۰۱۰۱۰. The correlation of root angles frequency and root number could possibly be exploited in selection programs as factors indirectly involved in increasing yield and the number of flowers per plant. Based on all evaluated traits, genotypes FLT۱۰, MM ۰۱۵۹۷, MM ۰۱۰۱۰, FLT۴۶, and FLTE۹۰۱۲ could be used as parents for future eggplant breeding programs due to their desirable agricultural traits.

Cluster, Correlation, Eggplant breeding, Factor analysis, Root characteristics.