Nizip eggplant is a local variety unique to the Nizip district of Gaziantep, Türkiye, which has achieved homogeneity through years of local cultivation and seed selection. The fruit measures 15–20 cm in length and 8–10 cm in diameter, with a prickly stem. Its skin features longitudinal parallel stripes in purple, white and greenish hues. The flesh is white, soft-textured and has a low seed content. Known for its sweet aroma, the eggplant maintains consistent flavor from the first to the last harvest. The plant exhibits anthocyanin pigmentation in the seedling stage, with moderately hairy stems and branches. Plant height ranges from 90–100 cm, leaf length from 25–30 cm and leaf width from 14–15 cm.
Registration Information
Registered as a designation of origin under the Industrial Property Law No. 6769, Nizip eggplant was applied for on November 17, 2017, and officially registered on November 20, 2020, with registration number 595. The registration was carried out by the Nizip Chamber of Commerce. The geographical boundary is limited to Nizip district in Gaziantep province, and the product or its packaging must bear the “Nizip Eggplant” label along with the designation of origin emblem. If the label cannot be used on the packaging, it must be prominently displayed at the production facility.
Production Method
Nizip eggplant production is sustained by selecting seeds from high-yielding fruits at the end of each season. Seeds collected in November are dried until they reach a melon-like color and stored in plastic containers until the germination period. Germination occurs in March at 24–30°C for 15–30 days in plastic containers or low tunnels heated by stoves. Broadcast sowing is done in late January to early February, and seedlings are nurtured with irrigation, hoeing, fertilization and if necessary, pest control until they reach the 4–5 leaf stage.
Cultivation takes place in well-drained, warm, sandy-loam soils. Soil preparation is completed in autumn with plowing to a depth of 25–30 cm and the application of 4–5 tons of aged farmyard manure per hectare. Seedling planting occurs in late March to early April, with 100 cm spacing between and within rows. The first hoeing is done when plants reach 20 cm or the 6–8 leaf stage. Irrigation is applied weekly using the furrow method. Top-dressing fertilization begins with the first irrigation and continues based on micronutrient needs. Harvesting starts in the first week of June and continues every 4 days until late November, depending on climatic conditions.
Inspection
The inspection process is coordinated by the Nizip Chamber of Commerce and conducted annually at the end of the harvest season in November. Additional inspections may occur in response to complaints. The inspection committee includes one expert each from the Nizip Chamber of Commerce, Nizip District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, Nizip Chamber of Agriculture, and Nizip Commodity Exchange.
Inspection criteria include:
- Characteristics and storage conditions of seed material,
- Suitability of the cultivation site,
- Compliance of harvested products with Nizip eggplant characteristics,
- Proper use of the geographical indication and designation of origin emblem.
The registering institution is authorized to pursue legal actions to protect the product’s rights.
