Characteristics of durian (Durio zibithinus L.) fruit derived from hand cross-pollination

During the period January 1986 to February 1987 a study was undertaken of the fruit characteristics from hand cross-pollinating of the durian (Durio zibithinus L.) cultivars Cha-nee and Kanyao with pollen of the varieties Cha-nee, Monthong, Kanyao, Kop Pikulthong and Ka-Teoy. The study was undertaken in Chanthaburi Province in Eastern Thailand. The percentage of fruit set in the two varieties was observed two weeks after pollination and compared with open and self pollinated trees of the two varieties. Open and self-pollination of the Cha-nee variety gave only 0.6 percent fruit set compared with 30 to 64 percent when cross pollinated. For the variety Kanyao, the corresponding figures were 21 and 87-89 percent. The cross pollinated fruit of the Cha-nee variety were oval shaped with unaborted carpels; they were larger and heavier than the open pollinated fruit. In the case of the variety Kanyao, cross pollination gave fruit that were round and with unaborted carpels; the fruit were smaller in size and weighted less as a result of the heavier fruit set. The open pollinated and cross pollinated fruit of both varieties did not differ in terms of texture, flesh colour, flavor and aril to seed ratio. However, the cross-pollinated fruit tended to have a higher number of seed per fruit. The results indicate that the level of fruit set in durian could be improved by cross pollination. For the variety Cha-nee the varieties Monthong and Kanyao could be used as pollinisers, while Monthong and Cha-nee could be used as pollinisers for Kanyao.