Tomato plants are widely grown in Indonesia using the open agriculture system. However, the widespread application of pesticides in horticultural farming, such as tomato, has prevented pollinators from visiting flowers, contributing to decreased diversity and population due to climate change and pollen and nectar availability in agroecosystems. This study aimed to determine the effects of pollination by stingless bee (Tetragonula laeviceps) on pollination success, fruit yield, and estimated productivity on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Furthermore, the effects of T. laeviceps as a pollinator was investigated on the physical and chemical characteristics of tomato fruit. This study used two treatments: with and without meliponiculture T. laeviceps. Pollination success and fruit yield increased on with meliponiculture (30.91% and 68.68%, respectively) compared without meliponiculture. The physical (fruit weight, diameter, and mesocarp) and chemical characteristics (moisture content, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, and lycopene) of tomato fruit were not affected by T. laeviceps pollination. Meliponiculture T. laeviceps increased pollination success, fruit yield, and estimated productivity but had no effects on the physical and chemical characteristics of tomato fruit. The application of meliponiculture T. laeviceps in tomato plantations proved to be a valuable strategy for increasing productivity.
Key words: lycopene; pollination, productivity; Solanum lycopersicum; Tetragonula laeviceps
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