Abstract:
Plants belong to Passifloraceae family are greatly dependent on insect cross pollination due to
their characteristics that hinder self pollination such as the position of stigma which is higher than
anther, and the pollen that is relatively ‘heavy’ for wind pollination. On the other hand,
passionfruit flower is big in size, attactive, bright color, emits good smell, and produces ample
nectar and pollen enhancing insect cross pollination. Nevertheless, low yield of passionfruit in
various production centre in this country and abroad is reported to be associates with the low
population of Xylocopa spp as passionfruit pollinator specialists. An investigation in method of
survey and “exclusion” study was conducted in Karo highland, North Sumatera to ascertain the
role of insects in passionfruit pollination.
The result of the investigation confirms that fruitsett only happen with the aid of flower visitors
which mostly are insect. Insect found visiting passionfruit flower consist of beetle, honeybee,
dan flies from the families of Chrysomelidae, Coccinellidae, Elateridae, Melandrydae,
Ichneumonidae, Apidae, Vespidae, Anisopodidae, Bibionidae, Chyromydae, Drosophilidae,
Stratiomydae, dan Syrphidae.
