Tailoring durian flavor for China: Malaysian farmers dial down iconic bitterness

Musang King, Malaysia’s signature durian variety, is known for its rich, sweet flavor accompanied by a hint of bitterness. However, according to local media reports, some farmers are currently attempting to adjust the flavor of their durians to boost the sweetness and eliminate the characteristic bitter aftertaste. These efforts are being motivated by typical consumer preferences in China, where the fruit was granted market access in June of this year. Zulhazmi Sayuti, director of the Horticulture Research Centre of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, stated that genetically modifying durians to make them less bitter is complex but feasible. The desired flavor profile could be achieved by regulating the genes responsible for glycosides such as saponins that contribute to the bitterness of durians. Pinpointing the exact genes and guaranteeing that other fruit characteristics are not compromised, however, may present a challenge. Furthermore, given ...