Overview
D210 Pak Awang V22 is one of the most recently registered durian varieties in Malaysia, entering the DOA catalog in 2020. Its name combines a personal reference -- "Pak Awang" is a common Malay honorific and name, likely referring to the original tree's owner or the person who cultivated the parent stock -- with a selection number, "V22," indicating it was the twenty-second selection in a systematic evaluation program. This naming convention, unusual for durian varieties, points to an organized breeding or selection effort rather than a casual discovery.
The variety originates from Kelantan, the northeastern peninsular state that borders Thailand. Kelantan has a distinct durian culture, with many local varieties adapted to the state's climate and soil conditions. D210 was registered by Lim Thiam Kiong through a government agency (Jabatan/Agensi), further suggesting institutional involvement in its identification and evaluation.
The DOA description is exceptionally detailed, reflecting the modern registration protocol. D210 is a medium-small fruit averaging 1.5 kg, with bright yellow flesh, a Brix reading of 31.1, weak bitterness, and moderate aroma. Its shell is notably thin at 7 mm, and the fruit's physical characteristics -- including long thorns, elliptic shape, and yellow-green skin -- are documented with precision.
Origin & History
D210 was registered in 2020 from Kelantan, making it among the newest entries in the Malaysian durian registry. The reporter is Lim Thiam Kiong, and the registration type is listed as Jabatan/Agensi (Department/Agency), indicating that the submission came through an official government channel rather than from a private individual. This is significant: agency-backed registrations often reflect organized evaluation programs where multiple trees or selections are assessed systematically.
The "V22" in the name reinforces this interpretation. In agricultural selection programs, "V" typically stands for "variety" or "selection," and the number indicates the sequence. Pak Awang V22 was therefore the twenty-second selection evaluated under whatever program produced it, which implies that at least twenty-one other selections were also assessed. Whether those other selections were also registered, or whether V22 was the standout, is not documented.
"Pak Awang" likely refers to a person -- possibly the landowner, the original grower, or a respected local figure associated with the tree. "Pak" is a Malay term of respect for an older man, and "Awang" is a common Malay name. The personal name attached to an institutional registration suggests a collaboration between a local individual and agricultural authorities.
Kelantan's durian-growing areas are concentrated in districts such as Gua Musang, Machang, and Tanah Merah, where hilly terrain and seasonal rainfall patterns support durian cultivation. The specific district of origin for D210 is not identified in available sources.
Characteristics
Fruit shape and skin. D210 is elliptic in shape with an obtuse base and a rounded tip. The skin is yellow-green (hijau kuning), which distinguishes it from the pure green or green-brown husks more commonly seen. The thorns are long and moderately dense, classified as Type 5 in the DOA's thorn classification system. The thorns at the apex curve inward, and thorns are present around the stem base. The thorn-free zone around the pedicel base is absent, meaning the fruit is thoroughly spiny. At 1.5 kg average weight, D210 is on the smaller side of the durian spectrum.
Shell thickness. The shell is 7 mm thick, which is notably thin. Thinner shells mean a higher proportion of the fruit's weight consists of edible flesh and seeds rather than husk. For consumers, a thin shell also makes the fruit easier to open by hand.
Flesh and seeds. The flesh is bright yellow (kuning cerah) with moderate texture and moderate creaminess. The average flesh weight per fruit is 0.37 kg, while the average seed weight is 0.33 kg. The average number of seeds per fruit is 11, with an average of 1 "kesep" (aborted or undeveloped) seed per fruit. These figures provide a unusually complete picture of the fruit's internal composition.
Sweetness, aroma, and bitterness. The Brix reading is 31.1, which the DOA qualifies as "manis lemak" -- sweet and creamy. This is a moderate sweetness level, typical of many good commercial durians but well below the exceptional readings seen in some other modern registrations. The aroma is moderate, and the bitterness is weak (lemah). The overall flavor profile thus leans toward gentle sweetness with creaminess, without the sharp bitterness or pungent aroma that characterize more intense varieties.
Leaves. The DOA description includes leaf characteristics: an obtuse base shape, long acuminate tip, moderate curvature at the tip, and grey-green coloring on the underside. These details aid in tree identification.
What is not known. While D210's registration is among the most data-rich in the catalog, no independent tasting reviews, yield data, or horticultural performance evaluations have been published.
Availability
D210 Pak Awang V22 is not commercially available. As a 2020 registration, it is one of the newest varieties in the system, and there has not been sufficient time for commercial propagation even if demand existed. The variety has no DOA planting recommendation.
The agency-backed registration does suggest a level of institutional interest that purely individual submissions may not receive. Whether this translates into further evaluation, trial planting, or eventual commercial release remains to be seen. Agency-registered varieties sometimes enter extension programs where grafted material is distributed to farmers for trial, but no such program has been publicly announced for D210.
For the foreseeable future, D210 Pak Awang V22 remains accessible only in Kelantan, where the original selection trees presumably still stand. Its thin shell, bright flesh, and moderate flavor profile make it an interesting prospect, but one that has yet to face the test of broader cultivation and consumer evaluation.