Study Of The Potential For Integration Of Heterotrigona Itama L. With Melon Crop Cultivated In Closed Greenhouse

Abstract

The practice of cultivating melons so far has only been limited to producing fruit not honey. However, it has the potential to be a source of income for farmer. H. itama can collect nectar flowers to honey. This research used 200 melon crops cultivated in a closed greenhouse and one hive of H. itama was acclimatized in the center of the greenhouse. Observation were made on the behaviour of H. itama visits to melon flower, flowering phenology, melon production against several types of pollination, and honey production by H. itama and potential additional income for farmer. The ratio of the number of male flowers to hermaprodhites of melon crops is 1:20. The average of H. itama was visit a flower during 35.99 seconds and a higher number of visits on male flowers compared to hermaphrodite flowers. Based on the treatments of several types of melon pollinations, melon fruits showed better quality in flowers pollinated by hand-selfof humans and repeated visits by H. itama. Meanwhile, the total amount of honey obtained in this study was four pots of honey with a total volume 16.9 ml equal to 270.400 ml/planting period.