Durian Techno Guide
Durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) is a distinctive Asian fruit. The tree reaches a height of 40 meters. Its bark is red-brown and peels off regularly. The trunk is buttressed. Its leaves are oval or lance-head-shaped and arranged alternately. The upper surface is smooth and glossy. The lower part is covered with scales and hairs. The flowers are whitish and greenish white. The fruit is green to brownish in color, shaped like a globe or egg.
Adaptation
Durian is adapted to sandy loam and clay loam, with high organic matter, reasonably deep and slightly acidic soil (pH of 5.6).
Durian grows in lowland tropics in elevation up to 800 meters above sea level with optimum temperature of 25-35°C and 80% relative humidity.
Recommended Varieties
- Arancillo (ACC. 1497)
- Atabrine (DES 806)
- Mamer (DES 916)
- Chanee (AC 2815)
- Monthong
- Oboza
- Puyat
- Lacson #1
The tree reaches a height of 7-8 meters and has an intermediate to spreading growth habit. The ovoid, brownish green fruit weighs about 1,560 grams with Mimosa yellow, firm and creamy flesh. It has mild aroma. It is prolific and consistent, has excellent eating quality and bears off-season fruits.
The tree has spreading growth habit with simple, alternate, dark green oblong leaves. It has ellipsoidal, greenish yellow fruit with Naples yellow, smooth and firm flesh.
Like other varieties, Mamer reaches about 7-8 meters in height. It has simple, alternate, dark green oblong leaves. Its fruit is ellipsoidal green and with flesh which is smooth and firm and Mimosa yellow in color.
The tree has a spreading growth habit. Its simple, oval-oblong leaves which are very dark green above and cinnamon colored beneath are arranged alternately. It has ovoid, green to greenish brown fruit and smooth and firm golden yellow flesh.
The tree reaches a height of 8-9 meters and has ovoid green to greenish brown fruit with creamy yellow flesh. It has simple, alternate very dark green leaves which are linear-oblong in shape.
The tree is strong with drooping branches and simple, alternate dark green, linear-oblong leaves. It has green fruit which is ellipsoidal in shape. The flesh is yellow in color and firm, soft and buttery.
Like Oboza, Puyat is strong with drooping branches and has intermediate growth habit. However, it has cylindrical greenish brown fruit with chrome yellow, firm, soft and buttery flesh.
The tree has spreading growth habit with simple, alternate, dark green oblong leaves. It has obovate, brownish green fruit with Areolin yellow, smooth and firm flesh.
Methods of Propagation
- Seed
- Cleft grafting
- Hypocoty grafting
- Epicotyl grafting
- Patch budding
Land Preparation
- Clear and remove all stumps and grasses.
- Plow twice and harrow thrice to loosen the soil.
Distance of Planting
- 5 x 10 meters = 200 plants/ha.
- 8 x 8 meters = 156 plants/ha.
- 10 x 10 meters = 100 plants/ha.
Preparation of Holes and Planting
- Dig a cubical hole measuring 50-100 m wide and 50-100 cm deep for clay soil type.
- Remove the plastic bag and plant the seedling into the hole without breaking the ball of soil. Prune spiraled roots to enhance root branching.
- Plant young plants at their dormant stage.
- Cover the hole with soil-manure mixture and press gently the surface of the soil.
- Plant during rainy season.
Maintenance
- Provide shade to newly planted durian seedlings for a period of two weeks to a few months depending on weather condition to enable the plant to recover from transplanting shock and to shade it from strong sunlight.
- Apply as basal 50 grams (5 tbsp.) of complete fertilizer (14-14-14) or based on soil analysis and cover with thin layer of soil. Rate of application increases as tree matures.
- Grow seasonal crops between rows of durian before they become productive.
- Ring weeding should be done before fertilization.
- Prune/remove dead, broken or diseased branches and water shoots to obtain desired canopy shape to enhance production of fruits.
- Mulch the tree with rice straw, dried leaves, cut grasses, or coconut husk during dry season.
Pest Management
Insect Pest and Disease Control
| Plant Parts/Stage of Growth Attacked | Control Measures | |
| Insects | ||
| 1. Beetles | Young seedlings | Spray with Roxion or Azodrin |
| 2. Twig borers | Young plants, small branches or twigs of old trees | Prune damaged branch and burn |
| 3. Psyllids | New shoots and leaves in young and old trees | Spray with Roxion, Azodrin or Decis |
| 4. Brown scale | Young shoots and leaves | Spray with Roxion or Azodrin |
| 5. Haplaphalora sp. (Bao-bao) | Young shoots, leaves, unopened flowers and fruitlets | Spray with Decis, Roxion or Gusathion |
| Diseases | ||
| 1. Path canker or stem canker | Roots, trunk | Spray with Ridomil or Alliete |
| 2. Pink diseases | Twigs and smaller branches | Spray with Tridemorph (Calixim); Triadimefon (Bayleton); Copper hydroxide (Kocide) or Bordeaux mixture |
| 3. Rhizoctonia | Foliage | Spray with Triamefon-Bayleton, Thiophanate methyl (Topsin M). |
Harvest Management
A well cared durian tree starts bearing fruits as early as five years old. Durian fruits generally fall from the trees at night when already mature and ripe.
Hand picked fruits have longer shelf life of 5-7 days compared to 2-3 days for fallen fruits.
Maturity Indices
- The fruit is 106-108 days old from opening for local cultivars, 112,113 days old Chanee and 125 days old for Monthong.
- Change in color. Pericarp turns yellowish green or brown.
- A dull and hollow sound when tapped.
- Strong aroma.
- Very pliable spine.
- Very distinct suture. Sweet with dull characteristic durian flavor.
Post-Harvest Treatments
Fruits that naturally drop must be consumed within 2-3 days. Fruits picked at proper maturity stage can be stored for about a week under ambient condition.
Ripening problems such as uneven ripening of the fruits in locules and variable ripening rates are encountered among fruits harvested at the same time. To minimize these problems, harvest fruits at optimum stage of maturity and sort according to cultivar and degree of ripeness prior to packaging. Fruits allowed to drop may have the best flavor but also have the shortest shelf life. On the other hand, those picked too early may have longer storage life but may not develop full flavor.
Refrigeration is the most effective means to extend the shelf life of fruits. In Malaysia, durian is stored at 10°C for two weeks without manifesting chilling injury symptoms such as darkening of peel and failure of fruit to ripen normally at ambient temperature. Mature green fruits of Thailand durian cultivars, ‘Mon Thong’, ‘Chanee’ and ‘Kanyao’ are stored at 15°C. There is still a need to establish the storage temperature range for locally grown introduced cultivars.
Minimally processed durian, (i.e., the extracted pulp with seeds packed in a styrofoam tray and covered with transparent cling-wrap film) is gaining popularity in many suburban and urban centers. Pulp can be stored in the freezer (-18° to -10°C) for as long as six months.
Packaging
Fruits intended for the local or nearby markets are generally packed in 50-kg capacity bamboo baskets (Fig. 1a). On the other hand, wooden crates with a 25-kg capacity, which contain 10-15 fruits, are used to ship fruits to Metro Manila (Fig. 1b). For inter-island transport, banana cartons, which can accommodate 4-6 fruits, are used (Fig. 1c)
 |
| Figure 1. Packaging options of durian. |
Bamboo baskets are cheaper and provide good ventilation. However, they are not rigid enough to allow stacking during storage and transport. Therefore, they should not be piled on top of the other during transport. If a second layer is preferred, provide a simple platform where the next tier of baskets will be placed. Likewise to prevent mechanical damage, individual fruits are separated using banana leaf sheaths. A lid may be provided to secure the fruits during transport and handling.
Wooden crates provide better protection and are sturdy enough to allow stacking. Several layers of newsprints are used to line the crates and separate fruits in the container. Fruits intended for distant markets should be packed in wooden crates or cartons.
Transport and Handling
From the collection center or packing shed, fruits in suitable containers are immediately transported to intended markets using jeeps and trucks that are covered with tarpaulin or canvass. Fruits are highly perishable and may crack when exposed to direct sunlight. It is best to transport the fruits at night to avoid exposure to sunlight and prevent heat build-up within the containers.
If it could not be avoided to pile fruits on top of the other in transport vehicles, separate the layers of fruits using pieces of cardboard. This can offer some protection against punctures of spines and compaction damage.
Farmers transport their fruits directly to the market by trucks. For inter-island trade, fruits are transported by ship or aircraft.
from bar.gov.ph
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