DURIAN FRUIT

 DURIAN FRUIT

Durian has been called the King of Fruits because of its enormous size (about 1 foot long), heavy weight, and the amount of fruit it contains.Because of its weight and sharp spikes, falling durians kill a number of people every year (for this reason, newer hybrids have been developed to make durian trees less tall)Thailand is the world's largest exporter of durian. A lot of durian fruit comes to our North American stores frozen.Durian is good for you! (see below for benefits)Durian has a famously strong smell, and is therefore banned from most public places in Southeast-Asia, including hospitals and trains. When travelling, it's always humorous for Westerners to see a 'no durian' sign posted beside the 'no smoking' signs!Usually durian is either loved at first taste, or hated. Its fruit is sweet and 'buttery' in texture, with very little juice. The first time I tasted durian, I was reminded of a creamsicle (not an exact comparison, but it might give you an idea). Durian can eaten fresh, or used to make various type desserts.

 Durian trees  are large, growing to 25–50 metres (80–164 ft) in height depending on the species. The leaves are evergreen, elliptic to oblong and 10–18 centimetres (4–7 in) long. The flowers are produced in three to thirty clusters together on large branches and directly on the trunk with each flower having a calyx and five (rarely four or sixDurian trees have one or two flowering and fruiting periods per year, though the timing varies depending on the species, cultivars, and localities. A typical durian tree can bear fruit after four or five years. The durian fruit can hang from any branch and matures roughly three months after  pollination. The fruit can grow up to 30 centimetres (12 in) long and 15 centimetres (6 in) in diameter, and typically weighs one to three kilograms (2 to 7 lb). Its shape ranges from oblong to round, the colour of its husk green to brown, and its flesh pale-yellow to red, depending on the species

Durian fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio and the Malvaceae family (although some taxonomists place Durio in a distinct family, DurionaceaeWidely known and revered in  south east Asia  as the "king of fruits", the durian is distinctive for its large size, unique  odour, and formidable thorn -covered  husk. The fruit can grow as large as 30 centimetres (12 in) long and 15 centimetres (6 in) in diameter, and it typically weighs one to three kilograms (2 to 7 lb). Its shape ranges from oblong to round, the colour of its husk green to brown, and its flesh pale yellow to red, depending on the species.

The edible flesh emits a distinctive odour, strong and penetrating even when the husk is intact. Some people regard the durian as fragrant; others find the aroma overpowering and offensive. The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust, and has been described variously as almonds  , rotten onions,  turpentine and gym socks. The odour has led to the fruit's banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in southeast Asia.

1. BRIEF HISTORY
Durian is a fruit of the tree. The name durian Malay term probably derived from the thorn of a given word’s suffix so that the durian. This word is mainly used to describe sharp barbed fruit skin.
Durian comes from the forests of Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo in the form of wild plants. Westward spread of durian is to Thailand, Burma, India and Pakistan. Durian fruit has been known in Southeast Asia since the 7th century AD Another name is the durian (Java, Gayo), duriang (Manado), dulian (Toraja), rulen (East Seram).

2. PLANT TYPE
Durian including family Bombaceae compatriots. Commonly called durian is a plant of the genus (genus) Durio, Nesia, Lahia, Boschia and Coelostegia. There are dozens of durian which recognized excellence by the Ministry of Agriculture and distributed to the community to be developed. Kinds of durian varieties are: durian breadfruit (Central Java), Petruk (Central Java), sitokong (Betawi), Simas (Bogor), Sunan (Jepara), Otong (Thailand), Kani (Thailand), sidodol (South Kalimantan), sijapang (Betawi) and sihijau (South Kalimantan).

3. BENEFITS OF PLANTS
Benefits durian than as fresh fruit and processed foods other, there are benefits from other parts, namely:
1) plants for the prevention of erosion on sloping lands.
2) The trunk for building materials / home furnishings. Durian wood sengon commensurate with wood because the wood tends to straight.
3) seeds that have high starch content, potentially as an alternative to meal replacement (can be mixed with the fruit pulp).
4) Skin ash is used as a material good, with. how sun-dried until dry and burnt to shreds.

4. INVESTMENT CENTER
In Indonesia, there are durian throughout Java and Sumatra. Meanwhile in Kalimantan and Irian Jaya is generally only found in the woods, along the river flow. In the world, durian spread throughout Southeast Asia, from Sri Lanka, South India until New Guenea. Especially in Southeast Asia, durian grown in the form of intensive plantation maintained by the state of Thailand.
Total production of durian in the Philippines is 16,700 tons (2030 ha), in Malaysia 262,000 tons (42 000 ha) and in Thailand, 444,500 tons (84 700 ha) in 1987-1988. In Indonesia the same year produced 199,361 tons (41 284 ha) and in 1 The durian is grown intensively and commercially for its fruit only in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.  In India, there are no large orchards or commercial plantings of durian, but for some trees in and around Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu) and West Coast. 

 Durian thrives in humid, equatorial climate with short or no dry season.  An annual rainfall of 200 cm is a minimum requirement, but heavy rains prior to flower initiation affect normal flowering, and the production decreases.  If minimum temperature falls below 8`C, the tree suffers from cold injury.  Trees of durian grow on different types of soils with 5-6.5 p H, provided they are moist, well aerated and rich in organic matter.  Deep silt or loams with good drainage and high level of fertility are ideal foe its cultivation.  However, the trees are susceptible to strong winds, which cause breaking of limbs or even trunk.

 There are more than 27 species of Durio, the genus to which durian belongs.  Apart from D.zibethinus, at least 6 of them have some edible value: D. testudinarum, D. graveolens, D.grandiflorus, D. dulcis, D. oxleyanus and D.kutejensis.  Of these, D. testudinarum is almost as important as D. zibethinus. Each of these species has many variants for fruit size, fruit color and leaf area.     As many as 300 strains/ varieties of durian are reported, but only a few of these are propagated by commercial nurseries in countries where these are popularly grown.  There are distinct variations in flavour,aroma and other fruit characteristics among the cultivars, which are readily distinguishable even on cursory examination.  Those with better market demand have less of the objectionable flavour and small seeds.  Chanee, Kanyao, Frog, Bojol, Ketan, Gombat, Mong Thong, Golden Pillow, Kob Champa, Lalong, Otang and Hepe are prominent cultivars.  Planting of more than one variety/ clone should be done in an orchard to facilitate cross pollination and better fruit set. 

aroma and other fruit characteristics among the cultivars, which are readily distinguishable even on cursory examination.  Those with better market demand have less of the objectionable flavour and small seeds.  Chanee, Kanyao, Frog, Bojol, Ketan, Gombat, Mong Thong, Golden Pillow, Kob Champa, Lalong, Otang and Hepe are prominent cultivars.  Planting of more than one variety/ clone should be done in an orchard to facilitate cross pollination and better fruit set. 

Health benefits

Durian fruit,like Banana, avocado and jack fruit,is rich in energy, minerals and vitamins. The fruit is made of soft easily digest able flesh with simple sugars like fructose and sucrose and some amount of simple fats that when eaten replenishes energy revitalizes the body instantly, can be used as supplement food in the treatment plan for underweight children. Durian is rich in dietary fiber, which makes it a good bulk laxative

                                                                 Prof. John Kurakar