Gathers available information on the durian fruit of Southeast Asia, which is known for its nutritional flesh, thorny appearance, and strong odor. The authors (Kasetsart University, Thailand) review the fruit's history, areas of production, phenological development, techniques for propagation and pruning, orchard pests, post-harvest technology, products made from the fruit, and its marketing in various countries. Eight pages of color photographs are provided at the end. Distributed by Oxford U. Press. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Durian is extensively grown in tropical regions, the major producers being Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. The tree is also grown in northern Australia, some South American countries and in Africa. Although to many novices its smell is notoriously offensive, its taste can become a passion and it is one of the most popular fruits in South-East Asia. To quote the great 19th century naturalist, A.R. Wallace: "To eat durian is a new sensation worth a voyage to the East to experience".
This book is the first comprehensive, scientific volume to be published in English on this "king of tropical fruit". It provides information on the biology, propagation and use of the fruit, and descriptions of the scientififc basis of production practices and orchard management, as well as post-harvest processing. It will be a unique resource for horticulture libraries worldwide and for students of tropical horticulture.
