| dc.description.abstract | Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is one of the fruit commodities which get a great
interest to be developed in Indonesia and has a high nutritional value. However, the
fungal infection and pathogens in melon cultivation are considered significant
problems that are difficult to manage. Therefore, efforts are needed to improve the
productivity and quality of melon and prevent pest and disease attacks. One mineral
nutrient that is assumed to enhance plant resistance and increase the quality and
production of melon is silica.
The purpose of the research was to evaluate silica absorption from foliarapplied
silicon nanoparticles in melon under soilless culture and improve melon
fruit's growth and quality by applying silica fertilizer. This experiment was conducted
in the greenhouse at IPB University, Leuwikopo experimental station (Indonesia),
from February to May 2021. The experimental design used in this study was a splitplot
randomized complete block design 3 x 2 factorial pattern with four replicates,
i.e., by adding silica fertilizer and using two varieties of melon. The main plot factor
is applying silica fertilizer (Novelgro, water-soluble), consisting of 3 silica
concentrations, namely 0.67; 1.33 ppm, and control (without silica). The subplot
factor is melon varieties consisting of Alisha and Glamour. Experimental data were
analyzed using analysis of variance and followed by Duncan's Multiple Range Test
(DMRT) if there is a significant effect.
The findings showed that the foliar application of silica fertilizer significantly
increased the plant height, stem diameter, internode length, total number of
hermaphrodite flowers, number of hermaphrodite flowers that are swelling, while
decreased the fruit moisture content and gave the best average fruit position. Instead,
melon cultivars produced in soilless culture differed substantially in terms of growth
rate and fruit quality. Glamour cultivars' growth rate and fruit quality increased
significantly regarding plant height, stem diameter, internode length, leaf area, fruit
weight, fruit diameter, fruit length, total soluble solids, flesh thickness, and rind
thickness, while decreased number of fallen hermaphrodite flowers. In contrast, the
Alisha cultivar gave a better growth rate regarding the number of leaves, the total
number of hermaphrodite flowers, and the number of swollen hermaphrodite flowers.
However, the results of this study did not show any interaction between treatments
on the experimental parameters. Moreover, our study indicated that the melon plant
could absorb silica in the low category (<1% Si). The highest silica contents were
found in the Alisha cultivar leaves and the Glamour cultivar's rinds treated with the
silica concentration of 1.33 ppm as much as 0.34% and 0.30%, respectively. | id |
