Advancements in Genetic Diversity and Genome Characteristics of Durians (Durio spp.)
Tran Gia Huy *
Institute of Food and Biotechnology, Can Tho University, 3/2 Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City, Vietnam.
Nguyen Kim Hoan
Can Tho University, Can Tho City, Vietnam.
Nguyen Pham Anh Thi
Institute of Food and Biotechnology, Can Tho University, 3/2 Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City, Vietnam.
Do Tan Khang
Institute of Food and Biotechnology, Can Tho University, 3/2 Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City, Vietnam.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Durian is one of the important fruit crops in Southeast Asia with its unique flavor and important economic benefits. Breeding programs have produced hundreds of different cultivars of durian. These cultivars are classified mainly by fruit and flower characteristics, which cannot be observed at the vegetative stage. Therefore, molecular biology is a powerful tool to approach and explore the genetic characteristics of durians. Many studies based on barcoded DNA and molecular markers have been conducted and valuable data have been exploited. Thanks to the advancement of sequencing technology, the plastid genome and the whole genome were sequenced in some durian cultivars. The data revealed reliable data on the structure and function of several genes. This review aims to update recent studies on the durian genome attributes and potential applications in the conservation of germplasm, authentication, and exploration of the gene structure and function of this specialty plant.
Keywords: Durian, genome analysis, molecular marker, plastid genome, whole genome sequencing