show Abstracthide AbstractScarlet eggplant (S. aethiopicum) is the second most important cultivated eggplant, and its cultivation is widespread in Africa, mainly in the west and central part, as well as in some part of Caribbean, Brazil and south Italy. This species is considered as hypervariable from the morphological point of view as it presents great differences in plant and fruit traits. Generally, this species is divided in four cultivar groups, namely Aculeatum, Gilo, Kumba, and Shum. It is used as rootstock for common eggplant due to its resistance at some biotic stresses.