While cucumbers, bell peppers and tomatoes lead the pack when it comes to greenhouse organic crops, it is another vegetable that might bring the greatest benefits to growers.

A representative of Netherlands-based produce supplier Eosta said that unlike most vegetables, eggplants, also known as aubergines, had roots which could repel nematodes in the soil.

Therefore if a grower alternates tomato with eggplant cultivation, the microscopic nematodes which otherwise would have been a pest for the tomatoes will vanish.

Eosta sustainability and communications manager Michaël Wilde told www.freshfruitportal.com that a few months ago he began investigating why the organic sector had such a strong focus on eggplant production.

"One of our growers explained it is extremely important for his whole crop rotation and for his soil to grow these plants - almost more important for the soil than the financial picture of selling the fruit," he said.

"So we wanted to get this information out to the public, to let them know that people who buy eggplants are actually supporting soil health."

While there are some examples of other plants being cultivated by organic growers to improve so health, such as grass clover grown on open fields to boost nitrogen content levels, he believed eggplants were relatively unique in greenhouses.

"When it comes to organic greenhouse crops, the eggplant is exceptional in this regard," he said.

In additional to repelling and eventually killing nematodes, eggplants have also been labeled as a 'smart' plant due to their problem-solving ability when dealing with the Verticillium mold.

The mold can block the nutrient and water uptake of plant roots, but the eggplant forms a natural bypass around the blockage and continue to produce high quality fruit.

In addition, the eggplant is said to be a big favorite for friendly insects like the 14-spotted ladybird which helps keep the population of lice under control.

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