Tolerance to waterlogging in Parkia gigantocarpa Ducke saplings

This study aimed to assess the biochemical responses of Parkia gigantocarpa saplings to waterlogging. Waterlogging was imposed by flooding the saplings in 14 kg pots to approximately 5 cm above the soil surface. The experimental design was completely randomized and involved two water conditions (control and waterlogging) over five assessment periods (after 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 days of waterlogging), with five replications per treatment. Starch, sucrose, total soluble carbohydrates and total soluble proteins were measured. The saplings exposed to waterlogging showed significant reductions in starch concentrations (62.50%) and total soluble proteins (40.98%), especially in the leaves. Waterlogging reduced the concentration of sucrose in leaves (44.38%) and increased it in the roots (76.78%). The total soluble carbohydrate concentration increased by 106.9% in the roots of plants exposed to waterlogging. This study showed the susceptibility of Parkia gigantocarpa saplings to waterlogging.