METROPOLITAN.id Melon or Cucumis Melo L is a fruit that contains vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for the health of the body. One of them, melon golden alisha which was developed in Bogor.
Alisha golden melon has a round shape and a smooth skin surface that does not run. Ripe melons are yellow, the flesh of the fruit is reddish with a distinctive sweet taste.
Golden alisha is a melon variety that is being developed by the Agribusiness and Technology Park (ATP) of the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB). This was stated by the Manager of the ATP IPB University Partnership, Sarwono.
According to him, this melon is cultivated in a greenhouse with substrate hydroponic technology, which is equipped with sensors for media humidity, media pH, electrolytic conductivity and temperature.
It is also equipped with a surveillance camera to observe developments via a smartphone.
“We planted melons in early 2020. This golden Alisha melon variety is a development of fruit plant cultivation in ATP,” he said recently.
No less than 800 melon plants are cultivated in polybags with cocopeat growing media plus husk charcoal. This month is melon harvest time.
“Melon can be harvested at the age of 65 to 70 days. Here we do not take the second fruit, but plant it again. Before planting or after harvesting, the sterilization greenhouse is sprayed with pesticides,” he said.
He explained that the cultivation of golden Alisa melon is the same as melons from other varieties, which requires sufficient attention.
In the greenhouse, he said, pollination of flowers is not natural with the help of insects, but artificial pollination is necessary.
“In greenhouses, the drawback is that we have to pollinate ourselves manually. We’ve used bees, but not optimally. This pollination can be done around 7 to 9 am,” he said.
In order for the fruit to be produced as desired, the ovules are selected from the ninth to 12th shoots. So that the removal of lower and upper shoots is routinely carried out at the time of planting three weeks.
“From shoots number nine to 12, we will choose later which is of course good and has good growth, that is what we take. The rest is thrown away,” said Sarwono.
For pest disturbances, he continued, what must be anticipated is whitefly. Insect pests that usually attack the leaves at the time of planting one week.
In addition, whitefly as a vector of viruses that cause disease in melon plants.
“The whitefly sucks the sap from the leaves and the leaves can curl. If he carries the virus and is exposed to the virus, the crop will fail. To anticipate, we install yellow traps and chemical sprays,” he explained.
In addition to the 320 square meter greenhouse located in Cikarawang Village, Dramaga District, Bogor Regency, ATP also cultivates golden Alisha melon in other areas through farmer partners. Among them are in Cianjur, Sukabumi, Bekasi and Tangerang.
“As for marketing, ATP cooperates with business partners spread across the Greater Jakarta area. The current price of golden Alisha melon at the farmer level for resellers is Rp. 25,000 per kilogram,” he concluded. (ryn)
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