CURRENT STATUS OF DURIAN BREEDING PROGRAM IN THAILAND

Abstract

Selection and evaluation of 1st and 2nd generation F1 hybrids and study on inheritance characteristics were selected and released with the desirable characters: early, moderate and late maturity, good eating quality, fine flesh texture, good fruit setting and phytophthora tolerant characters for durian production in Thailand during 2006 to 2010. Promising early maturity lines are hybrid No. 12-21-1 and 10-432-6, moderate maturity lines are hybrid No. 11-341-1 and 11-241-9 and late maturity lines is 5-441-13. Promising F1 hybrids of durian for processing is hybrid no. 5-451-5. Promising F1 hybrids with most tolerance to Phytophthora palmivora is IIICN5-4-3-6. Selection and evaluation of F2 durians showed that the hybrids No. 5-441-13-16-2 and 5-441-13-14-4 had growth, flowering and yield better than others. Regional yield trial for promising F1 hybrids of durian for production and export showed that hybrid no 6-413-7 grew better than others. Fertilizer response of selected F1 hybrids of durian showed that ‘Monthong’ was the most to respond to the fertilizer followed by ‘Chanthaburi 1, 2 and 3’ and nutrient content of soils showed that nitrogen most affected growth of durian. Effect of Phytophthora disease on selected F1 hybrids of durian showed that hybrid No. IIICN5-4-3-6 was the most tolerant on the stem and leaves. Commercial comparison for yield and marketable acceptance of new F1 hybrids of durian showed that ‘Chanthaburi 1’ grew better than others. Substitute of original cultivar with new F1 hybrids of durian showed that side grafting technique was successfully between 20-70%. Up to the present, based on evaluation from durian data during 2006 to 2010, it is expected that at least three promising lines of F1 hybrid cultivars will be released as new recommended durian cultivars in 2012 and will be officially named as ‘Chanthaburi 4’, ‘Chanthaburi 5’ and ‘Chanthaburi 6’.