Effect of pollination method on true shallot seed formation improvement

Abstract

Producing seeds from shallot flower requires proper pollination techniques to form pithy seeds. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of several pollination methods in producing true shallot seeds (TSS). The research was conducted in Cilame Village, Ngamprah District, West Bandung Regency, West Java at an altitude of 900 m asl. The study used a completely randomized design (CRD) which consisted of four treatments and six replications. The treatments are pollination methods: control (natural pollination), using a brush, using stroking/bare hand method, and a combination of using a brush and stroking. Pollination treatment was carried out when the flowers have bloomed for three consecutive days. The variables observed were plant height, number of tillers, number of flowers per clump, umbel diameter, number of capsules per umbel, and seed production per umbel. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, and if the results of the F test were significantly different, it was continued with DMRT (Duncan’s Multiple Range Test) and correlation. The result showed that pollination by stroking is the most effective to increasing TSS production per umbel. Seed production per umbel by stroking was 0.89g and control (natural pollination) was 0.23g. Stroking method increased TSS production per umbel by 74.16 % compared to control. Therefore, the method could become an alternative to increase the formation of TSS in overcoming the limitations of natural pollinator.