The Comparison of Pollination Efficiency of Stingless Bee (Tetragonula pagdeni Schwarz.) on Fruit Setting of Muskmelon

Abstract

Muskmelon is a popular economic crop and has many nutritional values. The use of stingless bees as a pollinator insect is effective to a pollination in agriculture. The aim of this research is to the comparison of pollination efficiency of muskmelon. There are three treatments: treatment 1 (stingless bee, Tetragonula pagdeni Schwarz.), treatment 2 (cross-hand pollination), and control (no stingless bees). The experiment was conducted behind of science center and replicated 3 times. The greenhouse measures 2 x 2.5 x 2 m and covered with nylon nets and inside the greenhouse have 10 muskmelons and compare the period of fruit of muskmelon, number of muskmelon and weight of muskmelon. The results found that the period of fruit of muskmelon, number of muskmelon and weight of muskmelon were significantly effective (P<0.05). The use of stingless bee was the fastest effective on the period of fruit value 4.66+1.28 days when compared with the cross-hand pollination and control value 7.33+2.56 and 10.33+2.64 days, respectively. The number of muskmelon, the use of stingless bee was the highest effective on the number of muskmelon value 10.58+2.42 fruits when compared with the cross-hand pollination and control value 7.64+2.16 and 4.22+1.44 fruits, respectively.  Whereas the weight of muskmelon, the use of stingless bee was the highest effective on the weight of muskmelon value 594.38+1.64 g when compared with the cross-hand pollination and control value 528.12+2.62 and 428.62+1.38 g, respectively.