Gungun Wiguna, dkk Efektivitas Ethyl Methane Sulfonate (EMS) …. MEDIAGRO 25 VOL 7. NO. 2, 2011: HAL 25 - 32 EFEKTIVITAS ETHYL METHANE SULFONATE (EMS) TERHADAP PEMBENTUKAN TANAMAN WORTEL (Daucus carota L.) MANDUL JANTAN Gungun Wiguna, Rd. Prasodjo dan Uun Sumpena Balai Penelitian Tanaman Sayuran Jl. Tangkuban Perahu 517, Lembang, Bandung, Jawa Barat 40391 Email: gungun_wiguna@yahoo.com Abstract The study was conducted at Indonesian Vegetable Research Institute in March to December 2009 with an altitude of 1250 masl. The objective of study was to determine the effectiveness of EMS in producing carrots male sterile. The experiment was arranged in Complitely Randomized Block Design with two factors and three replication. The results indicate that the local carrot cultivars have the survival to maturity better than hybrid varieties. The highest percentage of living plants showed by carrot cultivar origin Cipanas (73.21%). The percentage of live plants is affected by the EMS treatment only until the age of 60 HST. Increased concentrations of EMS resulted in decreased percentage of live plants. Increased concentrations of EMS also tends to reduce the weight of thousand grains carrot seed produced from the M1 generation. Visual appearance of pollen on all EMS treated the same as the control, that is pithy and bright yellow. Treatment of various EMS concentrations level provided the individual has not been effective in producing carrots male sterile. Key words: carrot, male sterile, EMS. Pendahuluan Wortel (Daucus carota L.) merupakan tanaman sayuran yang sangat dikenal masyarakat Indonesia dan populer sebagai sumber vitamin A karena memiliki kadar karoten (provitamin A) tinggi. Kadar beta-karoten yang terkandung dalam wortel (754 ug) hampir dua kali lebih banyak dari kandungan beta-karoten dalam kangkung (380 ug) dan tiga kali lebih banyak dari kandungan beta-karoten dalam daun caisin (286) (Afriansyah, 2002). Selain itu, wortel juga mengandung vitamin B, vitamin C, serta zat-zat lain yang bermanfaat bagi kesehatan manusia. Di Indonesia, sepanjang tahun 2000 sampai 2005 komoditas wortel mengalami peningkatan produksi dan luas rata – rata pertahun berturut-turut sebesar 21,65% dan 30,31% (Deptan, 2006). Produksi lokal baru sekedar memenuhi pasar tradisional. Sedangkan untuk pasar modern masih didominasi oleh produk impor. Peningkatan produksi ini perlu diimbangi dengan peningkatan kualitas umbi sehingga wortel produksi lokal dapat diterima di pasar dalam negeri maupun ekspor ke luar negeri.