Fruit shape morphometric analysis and QTL detection in a set of eggplant introgression lines

•Phenomic evaluation of fruits of eggplant ILs is reported for the first time.•Phenotypic differences with the recipient parent were found in the ILs set.•Forty-one QTLs for fruit shape related traits were detected.•Twenty-one QTLs were syntenic to previously reported loci.•Eleven candidate genes controlling fruit shape variations in eggplant are identified.