Evaluasi Keragaan Beberapa Hibrida Semangka Koleksi Balai Penelitian Tanaman Buah Tropika

Hybrid breeding of watermelon has led to the formation of high-yielding varieties. The objectives of the research were to determine the performance of hybrid watermelon of the Indonesian Tropical Fruit Research Institute (ITFRI) collection and to evaluate the superiority of each hybrid. The research has been conducted at Sumani Experimental Garden, ITFRI, Solok, West Sumatera, from April to July 2016. The material used consisted of 19 cross combinations. The data from this descriptive study were presented in the form of averages and pictures. The results showed that the hybrids that were tested showed diversity in size, fruit skin color, flesh color, skin thickness and fruit sweetness. Hybrids with three excellent characters, i.e. medium fruit weight, high total soluble solids (TSS) value, and moderate rind thickness, were not yet obtained. Hybrids that had the superiority in term of sweet taste and shelf life were BT1 × SGP, BT4 × BT4P, BT5 × BT4, BT6 × SGP and SGP × BT6. Keywords: hybrid, performance, total soluble solids, watermelon   ABSTRAK Pemuliaan hibrida pada semangka mengarah kepada pembentukan varietas berdaya hasil tinggi. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui keragaan hibrida semangka koleksi Balitbu Tropika dan untuk mengevaluasi keunggulan masing-masing hibrida Penelitian dilaksanakan di Kebun Percobaan Sumani, Balitbu Tropika, Solok, Sumatera Barat, dari bulan April sampai dengan Juli 2016. Materi yang digunakan terdiri dari 19 kombinasi persilangan. Data hasil penelitian deskriptif ini ditampilkan dalam bentuk rataan dan gambar. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa hibrida yang diuji memiliki keragaman dalam ukuran, warna kulit buah, warna daging buah, ketebalan kulit buah dan kemanisan. Belum ditemukan hibrida yang memiliki tiga karakter unggul, yang terdiri dari bobot buah sedang, total padatan terlarut (total soluble solid) tinggi, dan kulit buah agak tebal. Hibrida yang memiliki keunggulan berupa rasa manis dan tahan simpan adalah BT1 × SGP, BT4 × BT4P, BT5 × BT4, BT6 × SGP dan SGP × BT6. Kata kunci: hibrida, keragaan, semangka, total padatan terlaru