DURIAN
Introduction
Southern Mindanao ranks first in area planted to durian with 5,446 ha or 53% and contributed 17% of the national production with 11,614 mt. The per capita consumption in the region is 814 g per year with the total regional population of 4,275,985 against the national per capita consumption of 330g to 440g.
Results of the experiments and experiences of durian growers reveal the accumulated expenses from the year of stablishment up to the first fruiting usually on the 5th year can already be recovered plus a substantial net benefit. At a minimum price of P50.00 per fruit for a period of ten years, a grower can enjoy a total net benefit of not less than P2.7 million/hectare of durian orchard.
Description
The tree measures 12-15m in height. Its bark is dark red-brown and peels off irregularly. The trunk is buttressed (thickened at the base).
The 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 or greenish white. The fruit is green to brownish in color, spiny, and shaped like a globe or egg.
Preparation of planting materials
1. Select fully developed seeds from mature/ripe fruits of the recommended varieties.
2. Germinate the seeds in seedbox or seedbed with coir dust /fine saw dust as germination medium.
3. Prick seedlings 9-12 days after germination to 18 x 25cm x. 01 cm plastic bags containing garden soil, fine river sand and compost in equal proportion and place them in nursery shed.
4 Water them immediately after planting in polyethylene bags. Then water 2 to 3 days thereafter or as the need arises.
5. Seedlings are ready for grafting at 21-30 days old using hypocotyl grafting; epicotyl side grafting at 2-4 months old; cleft grafting for 5-months and patch budding for 8 months & older rootstock.
6. Gradually reduce nursery shade from 30% to full sunlight two months before field planting.
Characteristics of NSIC Registered Durian Varieties
Varieties |
Fruit shape | Fruit Size (kg) |
Maturity |
Peel Color |
% |
Aroma |
Flesh Color |
TSS |
| Channe | Cylindrical |
2-4 |
110-115 |
Greenish brown |
35-40% |
Moderate |
Golden |
25 |
| Monthong | Elonggated |
2-5 |
120-125 |
Golden yellow |
25% |
Moderate |
Creamy yellow |
27 |
| Atabrine | Ellipsoidal |
2-4 |
105-115 |
Greenish brown |
25% |
Strong |
Naples yellow |
25 |
| Mamer | -do- |
1-2 |
105-115 |
-do- |
25% |
Strong |
Barium orange |
25 |
| GD 69 | Obvate |
2-4 |
113-118 |
-do- |
36% |
-do- |
Canary yellow |
26 |
| Alcon Fancy | Round |
1-2 |
90-110 |
-do- |
35% |
-do- |
Yellow |
27 |
| Lacson Uno | Obovate |
3-6 |
115-120 |
Brownish green |
35% |
-do- |
Mimosa yellow |
27 |
| Arancillo | Ovoid to Cylindrical |
1-3 |
115-120 |
-do- |
38% |
-do- |
Chrome yellow |
27 |
| Puyat | Cylindrical |
3-5 |
120-125 |
Greenish brown |
40% |
-do- |
Chrome yellow |
27 |
| Oboza | -do- |
3-4 |
120-125 |
Green |
21% |
Moderate |
Yellow |
26 |
| Duyaya | -do- |
3-5 |
120-125 |
Green brown |
31% |
Weak |
Yellow |
27 |
| SMIARC #2 | Ovoid to cylindrical |
2-3 |
115-120 |
Brownish-green |
28 |
Moderate |
Barium yellow |
27 |
Land Preparation
1. Clear/underbrush the field.
2. Plow and harrow thoroughly to loosen the soil.
3. Stake a distance of 8 meters between hills and 8 meters between rows. Prepare holes 30 centimeters in diameter to a depth of 30 centimeters.
Planting
1. Remove the plastic bag and plant the seedling an inch from the original soil line without breaking the ball.
2. Cover the hole with top soil and press gently.
3. Apply as basal 50 g (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 the tree matures.
Maintenance
1. Provide shade to the newly planted durian seedlings for a period of 4-6 months depending on weather conditions. This enables the plants to recover from transplanting shock and protect them from strong sunlight. Planting banana in between rows of durian could help.
2. In the absence of the soil analysis, apply fertilizer with NPK ratio of 12:4:7 at 1,000g per tree for the first 5 years. Increase application progressively to 4 kg per tree during the 12th year.
3. Ringweeding should be done regularly and before every fertilizer application.
4. Grow cash crops between the rows of durian before they reach productive stage.
5. Prune/remove dead, broken or diseased branches and water sprouts to obtain the desired canopy shape and enhance production fruits.
During the dry season, irrigate the trees and mulch them with dried straw, leaves, cut grasses, and coconut husk or banana pseudostem cuttings.
Harvesting
Well-cared durian trees start bearing fruits as early as five years old. The tree grows very tall and makes it difficult to judge fruit maturity. So, it is common practice to wait until the fruit drops. Heavy cropping greatly reduces tree vigor. Picking is, therefore, important.
Handle the fruit by the rind. The fruit that is split upon hitting the ground deteriorates rapidly. The aril becomes rancid in 36 hours. Fruit gathered intact remains edible for two to three days.
Shelf life of picked fruit extends to about one week. Market fruits without delay. Carry them in bags and bamboo baskets, or transport in bulk on trucks.
Cold storage at 15°C extends shelf life to about three weeks. Quick-frozen arils retain their flavor for three months or more.
Maturity Indices
1. The fruit is 106 -108 days old from flower opening for local cultivars (Accessions 916, 806, etc.); 112-113 days old for Chanee; and 125 days old for Monthong.
2. Emits a dull and hollow sound when tapped.
3. Color of the pericarp is light brown with yellowish green
4. Strong aroma
5. Very pliable spine
6. Very distinct suture
7. Sweet with full characteristic durian flavor.
INSECT PESTS, DISEASES & THEIR CONTROL
| NAME | PLANT PART (S) ATTACKED | CONTROL MEASURE |
| I N S E C T S / P E S T S | ||
| Beetles | Infest shoots & young seedlings | Spray Roxion |
| Twig borers | Small branches or twigs of young & old trees |
Prune damaged branch & burn |
| Psyllids | Infest new shoots & leaves in young & old trees |
Spray with Roxion or Decis |
| Brown Scale | Young shoots & leaves | Spray with Roxion |
| Fruit borer (Tonica sp. Dichochrosis punctiferales) |
Fruit | Spray insecticide when moth is present |
| Haplaphara sp. (Bao-bao) | Young shoots & leaves, un-opened flowers & fruitlets |
Spray with Decis, Perfecthion |
| Shot-hole Borer | Trunks and stem | Scrape affected portion with a sharp knife. Coat/paint scraped portion with Aliette or Copper-based fungicide and insecticide |
| Mealy Bugs | Fruits & all parts of the tree | Spray Malathion |
| D I S E A S E S | ||
| Seedling dieback | Seedlings | Spray systemic fungicides |
| Foliar blight | Infects the leaves | Spray systemic fungicides |
| Patch canker Stem canker |
Infects trunks, stems & twigs | Scrape-off infected parts & paint with Aliette or Copper-based fungicides |
| Foot Rot | Infects roots | Scrape-off / cut infected parts & apply systemic fungicides (Aliette or Ridomil) as soil drench |
| Pink disease | Twig & smaller branches | - Remove diseased parts - Spray Tridemorph (Calixin) Triadimofen (Bayleton); Copper hydroxide (Kocide) or Bordeaux mixture) |
| Rhizoctonia foliar blight | Afflicts foliage | - Spray Triadimefon (Bayleton) - Spray Triophanate methyl |
.................................................
Source of information:
- DIS Techno-guide series no.03-05.2003.DNCRDC Information Service, Bago Oshiro, Tugbok, Davao City
- DA-SMIARC Results of various completed studies in Durian
- Durian Philippine Recommends 2000, PCARRD, Los Banos, Laguna
For more information, please contact:
DA-SMIARC
Bago Oshiro, Tugbok District, Davao City
Telefax: (082) 293-0109 or (082) 293-0136
Email: smiarc@yahoo.com