Soil Water Contents Affect the Physiological Traits of Duku Undergoing Sudden Death Disease, in Jambi

Duku, also known as Lancium domesticum Corr, is a plant native to Jambi Province, Indonesia, which is currently facing a sudden death disease. The plant generally grows in the alluvial of the Batanghari River, which is among the widest and longest rivers in Indonesia. Duku is consumed as a fresh fruit that tastes sweet and contains many antioxidants. The phenomenon of duku disease has the potential to cause scarcity, as its population continues to decline. The disease begins with root rot and is prevalent in areas that are often flooded due to the overflow of the Batanghari River. This study aimed to investigate the physiological aspects of sudden death in duku seedlings grown at different water levels. The study involved three treatments on seedlings, each repeated three times, using planting media with different water contents - Field Capacity (100% FC = control), 150% FC (flooded), and 50% FC (drought). Planting media were derived from heavily infested duku fields. This study suggests that sudden death syndrome is more likely to occur under drought and waterlogged conditions. The results showed that stomatal conductance decreased significantly under flooded and drought conditions. However, under drought stress conditions (50% FC), photosynthetic rate, intercellular CO2, and respiration rate increased.