Survey, collection, and identification of on-farm and in-situ durian germplasm in Thailand

Thailand is the world’s major durian producer and exporter, and one of the important sources of durian germplasm diversity.
However, only five durian cultivars are commercially produced, ‘Mon Thong’, ‘Cha nee’, ‘Kradum Thong’, ‘Kanyao’, and ‘Phuang Mani’, causing high vulnerability for extinction of other indigenous cultivars.
Consequently, the Chanthaburi Horticultural Research Center has surveyed, collected and studied durian germplasm both on-farm and in situ during 1967-2014. As a result, 691 indigenous cultivars with good characteristics have been collected from more than 10 unique sites in Thailand for conservation and breeding programs.
Three plants from each cultivar were planted at Chanthaburi Horticultural Research Center, Eastern-coast Commercial Fruits Development Center, and Chanthaburi Agricultural Research and Development Center.
Data have been recorded by following Bioversity International’s “Descriptors for Durian”. The indigenous cultivars were categorized into six major groups, Kob, Luang, Kan Yao, Kampan, Thong Yoi, and miscellaneous, according to leaf and fruit characteristics.
Existing indigenous cultivars are a valuable source of diversity and will be used for Thai durian cultivar improvement.

International Symposium on Durian and Other Humid Tropical Fruits

S. Vorakuldumrongchai, C. Chantee, S. Mitsakorn, U. Sitthilit

Durio zibethinus, indigenous cultivar, descriptors for durian, durian groups

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1186.6