This review and perspective synthesizes durian varieties, breeding, and intellectual-property protection in Southeast Asia, with particular attention to Thailand, reported to have earned US$4.4 billion from the market in 2024. It highlights limited genetic-diversity evidence, long generation times, environmental sensitivity, and plant-variety-rights enforcement challenges.
Key findings
- The paper reports 17 Thai durian GI designations across 16 provinces by 2024. Genetic similarity within the Monthong group can coexist with phenotypic variation potentially driven by genetics, management, or environment. The authors argue that weak rights enforcement may discourage breeders and call for stronger certification and profiling.
Why this matters globally
The combined genetics, plant-rights, GI, and market-standards framework is relevant beyond Thailand because tropical-crop competitiveness also depends on traceability, regional identity, and equitable value sharing.
Thai researcher contribution
Researchers from Kasetsart University, Prince of Songkla University, BIOTEC, the Department of Agriculture, and other Thai partners brought together varietal, production, economic, and policy perspectives from Thailand.
Limitations to consider
This is a narrative synthesis rather than an experiment or systematic review. Market and GI counts should be checked against cited primary sources. Mention of CRISPR or genomic selection signals potential, not deployment readiness, and causal effects of GIs on farm income remain unproven.