Inventarisasi Hama Pascapanen Pada Biji Kakao (Theobroma cacao L.) di Sulawesi Selatan dan Pengendalian Araecerus fasciculatus (De Gerr) Menggunakan Kantung Hermetik

Abstract

Globally, Indonesia is the second largest cocoa producer (849.875 metric ton in 2011) after Ivory Coast (1.6 million metric ton). Cocoa beans exported to the United States often get “automatic detention” due to insect infestation.The objectives of these research were (a) to inventory the diversity of postharvest pest of cocoa beans, (b) to develop recommendation for good storage practices using hermetic plastic bags for keeping dried cocoa beans in storage. Research was conducted in two steps: (1) field survey and (2) bioassay on the use of hermetic plastic bags to store dried cocoa beans. Field survey was conducted in the center of cocoa bean production in South Sulawesi, specifically in Kabupaten Luwu Utara, Bantaeng, Bulukumba and the City of Makassar. Hermetic plastic bags used were “Kantung Semar” and compared with polypropylene bags as control. Insect species found on cocoa bean samples from exporters warehouses were dominated Ephestia cautella, Araecerus fasciculatus, Liposcelis sp., In hermetic storage trials, 100% mortality was found on all storage time, 1, 2, and 3 months. This kind of storage system causes a decrease in oxygen content (up to 2% in 1 month, 0.9% in 2 months, and 0.5% in 3 months) and an increase in carbon dioxide (to 20% in 1 month and 22-23% in 2 and 3 months storage).