From omics to orchard: The role of omics in durian cultivation

Durian ( Durio zibethinus ) is a significant fruit in Southeast Asia, with major exporters including Thailand and Malaysia, and expanding production in other countries (e.g., Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Global demand for durian has increased over the past decade. However, cultivation and production face challenges due to climate change, disease outbreaks, and pathogen resistance to fungicides, leading to yield losses and high orchard maintenance costs. Omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, offer advanced tools for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying biological processes and could greatly benefit durian cultivation. By applying these technologies, scientists and orchardists can gain valuable insights into key traits such as disease resistance, fruit quality, and ripening. However, durian-related omics research remains relatively limited. In this review, we aim to broaden the understanding of these topics and discuss successful omics applications in other fruit orchards, highlighting similarities that could be applied to durian cultivation. These insights provide a roadmap for integrating omics into durian breeding programs and orchard management. In the future, we anticipate that ongoing durian research, advancements in omics technologies, and reduced study-related costs will lead to more efficient and sustainable durian production, ultimately benefiting both orchardists and consumers by improving yield and quality traits. • Omics technologies play a vital role in the sustainable improvement of durian cultivation by accelerating the identification of breeding-assisted biomarkers related to fruit quality, disease resistance, and climate adaptation. • Real-time ionomics of durian trees and soil can help optimize orchard and soil management practices. • Expanding the application of metagenomics and microbiomics in durian orchards will help analyze beneficial microbes and pathogens, facilitating improved biocontrol strategies for sustainable agriculture.