Abstract: Three varieties of eggplant seeds were carried by spaceship and the variation of SP1-SP4 generations were studied. The results showed that the germination rate and germination potential of SP1 generation was affected compared with the earth control but showed no significant difference. Main variations of eggplant were observed in SP2 generation. The plant height, largest leaf area, leaf expansion degree and fruit characteristics of eggplant were affected by satellite carrying. The breeding techniques on spaceinduced mutations of eggplant were proposed as follows: The seed number carried by spaceship should be not less than 500. SP1 generation should be numbered individually, as well as the seed reservation. All SP1 plants not less than 1 000 were kept for the planting of SP2 generation. SP2 was the focal point for breeding and only the seeds of variant plants were reserved. The selected variant materials should be numbered and reserved individually. In SP3 generation and afterward generations, the valuable variant plant seeds should be reserved individually. More than 30 individuals should be planted for the next generation of each group until the superior variant materials was selected.

Key words: eggplant, satellite carrying, variation, breeding techniques