EFFECT OF POLLEN QUANTITY AND REDUCTION OF POLLEN WATER CONTENT ON THE PRODUCTION OF SUPER RED DRAGON FRUIT (Hylocereus costaricensis) BY HAND POLLINATION TECHNIQUE

• Main Author: Rustinih
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/24137
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Pollen quantity given on hand-pollination techniques determine the size of the fruit is formed. This study carried out to determine the influence of variation of pollen load (0,1-0,3 g) and reduction of the moisture contain of the pollen (5-15%) on pollen viability, ability of pollination, growth of fruit, fruit production, post-harvest quality and estimation of productivity of super red dragon fruit using hand-pollination. The research conducted on dragon fruit garden belongs to PT Trisna Naga Asih with Randomized Block Desain (RBD) factorial method. Prior to cross-pollinate, pollen stored at temperature of - 20 ˚C for 4 months and performed testing the viability of pollen with 2% acetoorcein staining method.The results showed that the most effective results shown at the treatment pollen load 0,1 g and reduction of water content of the pollen 5%. The treatment recorded highest pollen viability, ability of pollination, growth of fruit, fruit production, post-harvest quality and estimation of productivity than other treatment, i.e. the pollen viability of 92.41%; the ability of pollination of 100% (compatible); the average fruit length of 12.97 cm; the average diameter of the fruits of 28.47 cm; fruit weight of 513.15 g; the number of seeds 5,500 – 5,700 seeds per fruit; moisture content of the fruit of 84.8%, and estimation of productivity of 36.9 tons/ha/year. Thus, pollen load of 0.1 g treatment with reduced moisture content of the pollen of 5% using the hand-pollination technique can be recommended to farmers to produce super red dragon fruit uniform with grade A quality.