Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 26 (3) September 2014, p. 195-202

Elaeidobius kamerunicus: APPLICATION OF HATCH AND CARRY TECHNIQUE FOR INCREASING OIL PALM FRUIT SET

AGUS EKO PRASETYO*; WIHARTI OKTARIA PURBA* and AGUS SUSANTO*

ABSTRACT

The population of Elaeidobius kamerunicus Faust and its aggressiveness have been on a decline in Indonesia in recent years. This situation has affected the oil palm fruit set. Hatch and carry technique was developed to solve this problem. Larvae and pupae of E. kamerunicus present in post anthesis male inflorescences were allowed to hatch in boxes. The hatched adults were sprayed with high viability (≥ 60%) pollens and then released in targeted oil palm plantation. After two months, the population of E. kamerunicus in the male inflorescences increased from 2571 weevils per hectare to 51 908 weevils per hectare. The frequency of visits by E. kamerunicus to anthesising female inflorencences also increased from 32 weevils per bunch to 604 weevils per bunch. As a result, the fruit set of oil palm up to a distance of 200 m from the hatch and carry boxes increased between 15.04% to 21.05%.

KEYWORDS:


* Plant Protection, Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute, 51 Jl Brigjen Katamso, 21058 Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia.
E-mail: prasetyo_marihat@yahoo.com