Molecular Plant Breeding 2025, Vol.16, No.4, 231-240 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/mpb 231 Feature Review Open Access From Wild Type to Premium Cultivars: Selective Evolution of Key Trait Genes in Durian Domestication Zhonggang Li 1, Yeping Han 2 1 Tropical Specialty Crops Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China 2 Institute of Life Sciences, Jiyang Colloge of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: yeping.han@jicat.org Molecular Plant Breeding, 2025, Vol.16, No.4 doi: 10.5376/mpb.2025.16.0023 Received: 30 Jun., 2025 Accepted: 31 Jul., 2025 Published: 08 Aug., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Li and Han, 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. Preferred citation for this article: Li Z.G., and Han Y.P., 2025, From wild type to premium cultivars: selective evolution of key trait genes in durian domestication, Molecular Plant Breeding, 16(4): 231-239 (doi: 10.5376/mpb.2025.16.0023) Abstract This study talks about the process of durian changing from wild state to the high-quality variety we eat now. The key point is how some key genes behind these changes are selected step by step by people. The study used several methods, such as population genome analysis, whole genome association analysis, and some molecular experiments. Together, these methods help us see a problem: how humans affect some important traits of the fruit, such as taste, disease resistance and yield, when selecting durian. The study also mentioned that these changes in durian cannot be explained by a single gene. There is a complex genetic structure behind them. Some are controlled by one gene, and some may be determined by many genes together. Some are “hard selection” and some are “soft selection”, and the traces they leave on the genome are also different. In addition, newly emerged mutations and existing gene mutations often work together. In addition to artificial selection, environmental changes and consumer taste preferences have also promoted the increasing diversification of durian varieties. This study not only allows us to better understand the genetic background of durian, but also provides important ideas and genetic resources for the future improvement of durian and other fruits. Keywords Durian domestication; Selective evolution; Trait genes; Population genomics; Variety improvement 1 Introduction Durian (Durio spp.) is often called the “king of fruits”. It is an important tropical fruit in Southeast Asia and has high economic value. In recent years, as people have become more and more fond of durian, many high-quality varieties have been cultivated in this region. These varieties not only provide more choices in the market, but also make the fruit traits of durian more diverse (Nawae et al., 2023). The durian varieties we see today are actually domesticated over a long period of time. At first, they were wild durians. People planted and continuously selected types with good fruits, strong adaptability, and low disease resistance. This process is also constantly changing the genome structure and function of durian (Nawae et al., 2023). The domestication of durian not only changed its appearance and taste. In fact, it also affected some important genes related to traits. For example, some genes related to gene regulation and protein action evolve faster in durian. Most of these genes are related to stress resistance and fruit development. In addition, the differences between different durian varieties in certain genes are also obvious. Changes in gene copy number (CNVs) and the presence or absence of certain genes (PAVs) are particularly evident in some key genes, such as those related to disease resistance, flowering, and fruit ripening. These changes indicate that the genetic diversity of durian is very rich (Nawae et al., 2023). This study is mainly to clarify how the key trait genes of durian were selected step by step during the domestication process. We also want to see how these changes in the genome have driven durian from the wild type to the current high-quality varieties. The study brings together the latest results of genome sequencing and comparative analysis, hoping to provide some theoretical and practical references for improving durian and breeding new varieties in the future.
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