Common durian - Durio zibethinus
Description and Uses
Durio zibethinus (Common durian) is a tropical tree from Malaysia & Indonesia. It is mainly grown for its fruit crops (medium shelflife), but also apiculture, fruit, and timber can be produced. The crop is harvested by hand picking. It starts flowering after 7 - 8 years. The first yield will be 10-40 fruits/year but in its top season there will be a yield of 100/150 fruits/year. The "fruit", and "seed\/nut" are edible. Medical uses include; "anti-anaemia", and "anti-fungal". The bark contains beta-Carotene (22 - 24 mcg). There is n/a extracted by centrifugation from the tree`s fruit yielding 5 - 6% oil. The tree`s wood is called Durian wood and has a density of 440 - 530 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree`s growing speed is fast, its energetic value is 3800 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is slow; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 70 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Durio zibethinus has a lifespan of 140 years.
Environmental limitations
The tree is 42 meters tall. It is fast growing and tolerates not less light than partial shade. Durio zibethinus has a shallow root-system and forms symbiotic relations with "Glomus intraradices", and "Glomus mosseae" fungi (endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The tree`s flower-morphology is bi-sexual and is pollinated by bees. Durio zibethinus is evergreen and not allelopathic and has no thorns.
Durio zibethinus thrives in an altitude of 300 to 800 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is 15°C and optimally between 22 - 27°C. The optimal rainfall is 2500 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 1500 - 2000 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 5.0 - 7.0 in a soil texture of loam. To salt it is intolerant to wind intolerant and to fire intolerant.
Pests and Diseases
"Helicotylenchus erythrinae", "Helicotylenchus mucronatus", "Helicotylenchus multicinctus", "Helicotylenchus pseudorobustus", and "Radopholus similis" are pests and "Root rot", "Phytophthora palmivora", "Pink disease", and "Black and brown leafspot", are diseases.
Seed Propagation
Seeds are recalcitrant and can be stored for 1 months. There are approximative 570 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed: (1) Keep seeds in water between 20-27 C, (2) Soak the seeds overnight in warm water before sowing., (3) press the seeds twice its size in the soil soil.
