The Durian Industry in Southeast Asia is Threatened by Phytophthora

Date:04-16-2024

Originating from Southeast Asia, durian is one of the renowned tropical fruits, with rich content of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. 

Durian possesses exceptionally high nutritional value, and its unique flavor is widely cherished and deeply loved by consumers. As market demand in multiple countries continues to grow, the economic value of durian is steadily rising.

The durian tree has a long planting cycle, typically taking 4-5 years for a new durian tree to bear fruits. In hot and humid environments, durian is highly susceptible to infection by pathogens such as Phytophthora palmivora, leading to a series of symptoms including root rot, trunk gummosis, branch dieback, wilting leaves, and softening and darkening of the fruit peel. When the infestation is severe, the entire durian tree may be on the brink of death. 

This disease has caused significant economic losses to durian growers in Southeast Asia and seriously threatens the entire industry.

Therefore, effectively addressing phytophthora disease of durian has become an urgent priority. To prevent and control durian phytophthora, durian orchards can be managed from the following aspects: 

(1) Plantation Management: Choose higher ground with good drainage to avoid waterlogging at durian tree roots; maintain a moderate planting density.

(2) Water Management: Water the plants appropriately to ensure suitable soil moisture.

(3) Fertilization Management: Apply fertilizers reasonably, avoiding excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers.

(4) Agrochemical Management: Apply PILARZOX (Novel fungicide from Pilarquim) by smearing, spraying, and root irrigation to effectively prevent and cure the phytophthora disease of durian.

        

Fig.1: Before application	Fig.2: Applying PILARZOX	Fig.3: After applying PILARZOX

                                     

In the demo plots of Pilarquim, many trials of PILARZOX for controlling phytophthora were conducted. As shown in Figure 1, the durian tree on the left originally had yellowing leaves and gummy branches, and the farmers were ready to abandon this tree. However, after a month of applying PILARZOX, the durian tree regained its vitality. Through more than two years of market verification, PILARZOX has performed excellently in preventing and controlling phytophthora, gradually winning the trust of growers in Southeast Asia.