Durion

Description

It is a large tree, which can reach 25 m in height. The sheets alternate, whole, are of acuminate oblong form and measure approximately 10 centimetres. The flowers are hermaphrodites and release a bitter and strong odor. This emanation is typical for the flowers which are pollinated by certain species of Chauve-souris.

They appear grouped in Cyme S from 3 to 30 Fleur S which push on the large branches and the trunk. They comprise from 3 to 5 Pétale S (seldom 4 or 6) and an unspecified number of cheesecloth S, welded at the base by their nets. The ovary with five cabins contains a variable number of ovules. The trees flower one or twice per year and the period depends on the species and the place. A tree carries fruits as of its fourth or fifth year.

The fruit, very bulky, with a length and a diameter from respectively 30 and 15 centimetres, lignifies with maturity. It takes three months after pollination so that it is ripe. It is of greenish color and is roughcast many conical spines. According to the species, this color can vary and draw on the brown one, the red or the yellow. It opens in five valves containing each one up to five Graine S drowned in a consistent white pulp like cream and with the powerful odor. These seeds with large Cotylédon S are edible.

The nine known edible species to date are:

Durio zibethinus
Durio dulcis
Durio grandiflorus
Durio graveolens
Durio kutejensis
Durio lowianus
Durio macrantha
Durio oxleyanus
Durio testudinarum

It is possible however that certain species which never discovered, were not collected or were studied are also edible.

The species Durio zibethinus is the only species sold with large scales and available apart from its area. The term Zibethinus is a reference to the Indian Civette, Viverra zibetha . There exists a discord as for the significance of this association which one owes with Carl von Linné: it could be an allusion to the odor of chive or with the chive which appreciates particularly them lasted and which was used as trap to catch them.

Pollination

As the species are pollinated between them, the durion has a great wealth of terms of color, odor, consistency of the flesh, size or the shape of seeds. The Phénologie of the trees is also very variable.

According to a study undertaken in the Years 1970 in Malaysia, lasted them are pollinated almost exclusively by the bat of the species Eonycteris spelaea .

Cultivars

A certain number of Cultivar S of the durion appeared in the South-East Asia during the centuries. The selection took place by sorting seeds. From now on, the durion is cultivated according to modern technologies, with in particular Greffe S on robust species. The cultivars can be distinguished according to the shape from the fruit and its points.

The majority of the cultivars have a common noun and a code which start with the letter D . One can in particular quote the Kop (D99), the Chanee (D123), the Tuan Mek Hijau (D145), the Kan Yao (D158), the My Thong (D159), the Kradum Thong . Certain varieties do not have a name like D24. One counts more than 200 cultivars of Durio zibethinus in Thailand, the Chanee being appreciated to support the Clerc's Offices because of his robustness and of its resistance to Phytophthora will palmivora (a mushroom of the family of the Phytophthora ). Among the above-mentioned varieties, only four of them are sold with a broader scale: Chanee , Kradum Thong , My Thong and Kan Yao . In Malaysia, one counts more than 100 cultivars and some cultivars of very good quality take part in contests organized at the time of the annual show of agriculture, the horticulture and the Malayan agrotourism. With the Vietnam, the same kind of selection takes place at the time of competitions organized by the Southern Fruit Research Institute'.

A scientist inhabitant of Thailand, Songpol Somsri, crossed 90 varieties of durion to obtain the variety Chantaburi N°1 , a cultivar without the odor characteristic of the durion. This crossing must still be approved by the ministry for agriculture. Another hybrid, the Chantaburi N°3 , immediately does not develop its odor after harvest. It is only after three days that it exhales the perfume of the traditional durion. This type of hybrid makes it possible to transport the fruit without inconveniencing possible passengers, while satisfying the request for a more odorous fruit. In Philippines, the production is concentrated in the area of Davao. The Festival of Kadayawan devoted to the durion takes place each year with Davao City.

If the durion is not native of Thailand, this country is one of the principal exporters of the fruit, with: 781000 tons. The worldwide production rose with: 1400000 tons in 1999, of which: 111000 tons which were exported. China is a major importer with: 65000 tons in 1999, followed by Singapore (: 40000 tons) and Taiwan (: 5000 tons). The United States imported some: 2000 tons, most of the time in frozen form and the European Union approximately: 500 tons. Lasted can be bought in Europe in Asian stores. With the Japan, one can also find lasted in the supermarkets.

Odor and savor

In 1856, the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace gives a description of savors of the durion:

A cream with the marked almond taste gives the best seen durion, but there are sometimes occasional appearances of a savor which recalls a cream to cheese, a sauce with onion, Jerez and other incongruous dishes. Then there is a viscous and rich softness in the pulp that anything else does not have but which contributes to its delicacy.

Wallace informs that the odor of the ripe fruit can appear unpleasant to the first access. Recent descriptions as that of Richard Sterling are more precise:

… its odor can be described like that of the excrements of pig, of terpentine and onions, the whole furnished by an old sock. One can feel it far with the round. In spite of its great local popularity, the fruit is interdict in certain establishments like the hotels, the subways and the airports (including the other bag and hand luggage, accompanied or not), as well as public transport of the South-East Asia.

The unusual odor forces people to find comparisons to describe it. Analogies with the sewers, vomit, the odor of the fitchet. The broad range of odors of the durion makes that the comparisons are numerous. The species do not release all the same odor, for example the red durion ( D. dulcis ) has caramel relents with terpentine whereas the durion with red flesh ( D. graveolens ) emits scents close to grilled almonds. The degree of maturity contributes largely to the odor. It is possible that the fruit evolved/moved with time with the appearance of the points aiming at discouraging the small animals, less likely to transport seeds than the large animals.

Use

This fruit become ripe, i.e. when its envelope starts to open, is consumed generally fresh, but exhales a strong odor alliacée, which increases with time and becomes straightforwardly putrid when the fruit is spoiled. It is less strong immediately after harvest, and is accentuated at certain improved varieties. One also makes use of it to prepare ices and pastry makings. One can vaguely describe his taste as that which a Oignon very sweetened with a coconut peel would have. Lastly, that depends on the experiments of each one.

Its Graine S edible is once roasted. Crushed, they are used to prepare cakes.

Vernacular name

not to confuse with the " Ti jac" or Jacquier which one amongst other things meets in South Asia, nor with the Breadfruit tree, which one meets in the tropical areas.

References

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