Solanum torvum (turkey berry, pea eggplant) is a tropical Solanaceae species native to Central America and the Caribbean. Seeds exhibit strong physiological dormancy requiring pre-treatment to achieve adequate germination rates. The species is widely used as a rootstock for eggplant and tomato due to disease resistance.
Before sowing
Gibberellic acid (GA3) at 10 ppm or potassium nitrate (KNO3) 0.2% soaking significantly improves germination. Cold stratification at 15°C for 7 days followed by heat shock at 30°C for 7 days optimal.
Sowing
What to expect
Tips
Fresh seeds present strong dormancy with no germination untreated. Seed batches show variable response to treatments. Gibberellic acid treatment most effective overall. Seeds from ripe yellow fruits achieve highest germination (95%) at 12 days mean time. Store seeds under ambient conditions for up to 16 weeks to improve dormancy alleviation.
Sources: MDPI (2026), ResearchGate - Treatment of Solanum torvum seeds (2016), ScienceDirect - Improving seed germination using orthogonal array design (2015), Cutti & Kulckzynski (2016), VIRIAR guides, PFAF database
