Applications of omics in deciphering the unique traits of durian, the king of fruits

Durio zibethinus, commonly known as the "king of the fruits," is widely cultivated in Southeast Asia, contributing significantly to the region's economy. In addition to commercial cultivars, numerous local edible durian species are also found in these countries. With the rapid advancement of omics technologies, extensive studies have been conducted on durians using various omics approaches. To date, omics studies have primarily focused on commercial durians (D. zibethinus), with relatively less emphasis on endemic, minimally commercialized local durians (Durio sp.). As such, this review summarizes all omics studies performed on both commercial cultivars and local durians of different species. In addition, it explores their applications in evolutionary studies, understanding the fruit ripening mechanism, identifying genetic markers for breeding, and uncovering their pharmaceutical and industry potential, as well as post-harvest processing. Furthermore, the current limitations of durian omics studies and future research prospects are discussed.