THE INTRODUCTION OF BLOW FLIES (Diptera: Calliphroidae) AND Tetragonula laeviceps IN THE ATTEMPT ON THE PRODUCTION IMPROVEMENT OF TRUE SHALLOT SEED (Allium cepa L.)

• Main Author: Nazirah Sulistia - Nim: 10614022 , Winda
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/31643
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

<p align="justify">General method used for the production of True Shallot Seed by using hand pollination which produces high productivity but requires high costs for large scale application. Another approach that has prospects is application of insect as pollinating agent. Several studies have shown that blow flies (Diptera: Calliphroidae) and stingless bees (Tetragonula laeviceps) are visitor insects to be applied as a pollinator on red onion flower (Allium cepa L.). The aims of this study are (1) to obtain information about pollinating activity of blow flies and T. laeviceps, (2) to compare pollinating efficiency of blow flies, stingless bee, and open hand pollination, (3) to determine optimal density of blowflies for produce the highest TSS productivity. The research was carried out at the open field plantation in Lembang on the altitude >1000 m dpl. There are seven treatments, including open hand pollination; open pollination; cage control; 100 individuals of blow flies (B100); 300 individuals of blow flies (B300); 500 individual of blow flies (B500); and one colony of Tetragonula laeviceps. Treatment of insect introduction and cage control is limited by gauze to shade 20 red onion plants. Observation of insect pollinator activity is carried out during flowering. In general, blow flies visit more flowers per minute (15,18±4,54 flowers/ minute) and handling time per umbel (134,47±45,90 seconds/ umbel) longer than T. laeviceps (5,40±2,66 flowers/ minute and 80,57±17,42 seconds/ umbel, respectively). The results showed that open hand pollination produced the highest pollination efficiency and TSS weight per umbel (61,91% and 1,22 grams) with a significance value shows not significantly different compared to B500 treatment (60,56% and 1,09 grams). Thus it can be seen that B500 treatment is the best optimal density for blow flies application as a pollinating agent. Based on observations of pollinator activity and TSS productivity, blow flies have the potential to become pollinator to replace hand pollination treatment with optimum density in a closed system application of 500 individuals per m2. <p align="justify">