Mengting Luo^1,2

1 Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
2 Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Tropical Animal and Plant Resources Research Center, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity, 2025, Vol. 15, No. 1   doi: 10.5376/ijmeb.2025.15.0001
Received: 24 Nov., 2024    Accepted: 30 Dec., 2024    Published: 10 Jan., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Luo M.T., 2025, Origin and dispersal of durian germplasm in southeast asia: gene flow between wild populations and cultivated varieties, International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity, 15(1): 1-9 (doi: 10.5376/ijmeb.2025.15.0001)

Durian (Durio zibethinus) is a famous tropical fruit and an important economic crop in Southeast Asia. It also has a special place in local culture. Studying the origin and dissemination of durian germplasm is very helpful for its conservation and breeding improvement. This study sorted out the genetic diversity, evolutionary process and species relationship of durian. We focused on the distribution differences between wild durian and cultivated durian, as well as their respective contributions to genetic composition. The study used genomic technology to further illustrate how genes flow between wild durian and cultivated durian, and also evaluated the value of these gene exchanges for breeding. At the same time, it also analyzed how human activities, such as migration and cultivation, affect the spread of durian germplasm. We also used Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand as examples to study the genetic characteristics of local durian varieties and their wild “relatives”. These cases help us understand the genetic structure of durian more clearly. Finally, the study pointed out that it is now necessary to use biotechnology to protect durian germplasm. Combining genetic research and conservation measures will help durian develop longer both commercially and ecologically.

Durian germplasm; Genetic diversity; Gene flow; Conservation; Southeast Asia