International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.4, 185-194 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 192 7.3 Emergence of new technologies Because of breakthroughs in biotechnology, the future of research is full of hope. Tools such as CRISPR-Cas9 make it possible to precisely tune the genes responsible for aroma, allowing researchers to more directly test gene function and design durian scents with customized odor signatures (Teh et al., 2017), which can reduce durian's distinctive odors at the DNA level. High-throughput phenotypic analysis makes it faster and easier to screen durian varieties for specific aroma characteristics. Breeders can more effectively identify and breed better-smelling durians (Belgis et al., 2017). But also with the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning, these tools can help make sense of large and complex omics datasets, reveal hidden gene interactions, and even predict how changes in individual genes affect aromas. By using artificial intelligence to model these networks, researchers can create smarter breeding strategies to scientifically improve the quality of durians to meet consumer expectations. 8 Concluding Remarks Research into durian has uncovered some fascinating insights into how its famously bold aroma is made-especially the biosynthesis and regulation of sulfur-containing volatiles, which are the main drivers of that unmistakable scent. Early genomic studies of Durio zibethinus have pinpointed key metabolic pathways, along with amplified genes-most notably methionine γ-lyase (MGL)-that are closely linked to the production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). What’s more, the upregulation of pathways related to sulfur metabolism, ethylene signaling, and lipid processes hints at a deeply interconnected regulatory network behind durian’s aroma. When comparing different durian varieties, it's clear that both the diversity and amount of sulfur compounds make a major impact on how each fruit smells. Certain compounds, in fact, are directly tied to those distinct, sometimes polarizing, odor profiles. Learning how durian makes those strong-smelling sulfur things isn’t just for fun or science. It can also help us make durian smell and taste better. If we find the right genes and see how they work, we can keep the good smells and get rid of the bad ones. Once we know this, breeders can use the info to grow new durian types that more people will enjoy. This could also help durian sell in more places. And it’s not only about durian. We can use the same method for other fruits too. That’s why this research is helpful not just for durian, but for farming and food tech in general. Further research could be conducted to see which genes and chemical reactions are involved in this process, particularly transcription factors and epigenetic regulation that control gene expression. Now the genome and transcriptome technology is more and more advanced, the future may find more ways of regulation, may also find new directions for improvement. In practice, molecular markers can be used to help breeders pick out durians with specific scents. Gene editing can also further regulate the production of sulfur. Through these methods, the durian's flavor can be improved and it can be more popular in the international market. Acknowledgments We would like to thank the two peer reviewers, Rudi Mai and Qixue Liang, for their feedback on the initial draft of this study. Their thoughtful evaluations and constructive suggestions have greatly contributed to the improvement of our manuscript. Funding This study was funded by the Hainan Tropical Agricultural Resources Research Institute Research Fund (Project No. H2025-01). Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Abdul Rahman M.S., Kanakarajan S., Selvaraj R., Kamalanathan A., Fatima S., Abudawood M., Siddiqi N.J., Alanazi H., Sharma B., and de Lourdes Pereira M., 2023, Elucidation of the anticancer mechanism of durian fruit (Durio zibethinus) pulp extract in human leukemia (HL-60) cancer cells, Nutrients, 15(10): 2417. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15102417
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