Eng: Climbing Brinjal; San: Alarka; Mal: Tutavalam; Tam: Tuduvalai; Kan: Mullumusta;
Tel: Telavuste
It is mostly seen in South and Western India. The plant contains alkamine and
solamarine. The berry and flowers are bechic and used in bronchitis. The alkaloid solamarine
is antibiotic and possesses antitumour activity.
12. S. viarum Dunal, syn. S. Khasianum C. B. Clarke
Hin: Kantakari
It is widely distributed in Khasi, Jaintia and Naga hills of Assam and Manipur upto
2000m and in Sikkim, West Bengal, Orissa and in the Niligiris. The plant and berries contain
solasonine (which on hydrolysis yields solasodine), solamargine, khasianine, nantigenin,
solasodine, diosgenin and saponin-solakhasianin. The plant is spasmolytic and CNS active.
The berry is a source of solasodine used in the synthesis of corticosteroidal hormones.
Agrotechnology
The agrotechnology for the solanaceous group of plants are almost similar. They come
up very well in tropical and subtropical climate upto 2000m altitude. They can be raised on a
variety of soils good in organic matter. Propagation is by seeds. The seedlings are first raised
in the nursery and transplanted to the main field 30-45 days after sowing when the plants
attain 8-10cm height. During rainy season, planting is done on ridges while during summer in
furrows, at a spacing ranging from 30-90cm depending upon the stature and spreading habit of
the plant. The transplanted seedlings should be given temporary shade for 2-4 days during
summer. FYM or compost at 20-25t/ha is applied at the time of land preparation. A moderate
fertiliser dose of 75:40:40 N, P 2 O 5 , K 2 O/ha may be given. P is given as basal dose, N and K
are applied in 2-3 split doses. One or two intercultural operations are needed to control
weeds. The plants need earthing up after weeding and topdressing. Irrigation is needed at 3- 4
days interval during summer and on alternate days during fruiting period. Plants need staking
to avoid lodging due to heavy bearing. Shoot borers, mealy bugs, leaf webbers and miners are
noted on the crop, which can be controlled by spraying mild insecticides. Root knot
nematode, wilting and mosaic diseases are also noted on the crop. Field sanitation, crop
rotation and burning of crop residues are recommended.