D188 MDUR78
Overview
D188 MDUR78 is a hybrid durian created by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), registered with the Department of Agriculture (DOA) in September 1991. It is one of three sibling hybrids -- along with D189 MDUR79 and D190 MDUR88 -- produced from the same parental cross of D24 and D10. Together, these three clones are recognized as the world's first commercial hybrid durian varieties.
The "MDUR" prefix stands for MARDI Durian, and the number 78 identifies this as a specific selection from the institute's breeding trials. MDUR78 was developed at MARDI's research station associated with Terengganu, where controlled hybridization and field evaluation programs were conducted over many years before the clones were deemed ready for official registration.
The DOA description records D188 as a medium-sized fruit averaging 1.65 kg (range 1.5-1.8 kg), with a wide elliptic shape and light yellowish-green skin. The shell is thick. The flesh is thick, yellow, with large arils (1-3 per segment), a smooth texture, a creamy sweet taste, and moderate aroma. Seeds are medium-sized and flesh content is 20%.
One detail in the DOA record is unusual: D188 cracks open 70 hours after falling from the tree. This level of post-harvest precision -- specifying the exact timeframe for dehiscence -- is rare in DOA entries and reflects the institutional rigor of MARDI's documentation. For farmers and handlers, this information has practical value: it defines the window between harvesting and the fruit becoming ready to eat.
Origin & History
MARDI's durian hybridization program represents a significant step beyond earlier institutional breeding efforts. The DOA itself had conducted hybridization trials in the early 1980s, producing the D141-D144 series -- four experimental crosses registered in 1981 from Selangor, all involving D2 (Data Nina) as a parent. Those DOA hybrids were registered for documentation and germplasm conservation but never reached commercial cultivation.
MARDI's approach was different. Where the DOA's 1981 hybrids remained experimental, MARDI designed its program with commercialization in mind from the outset. The institute selected D24 and D10 as parents -- D24 being one of Malaysia's most commercially successful varieties, known for its creamy bittersweet flesh and wide adaptability, and D10 contributing its own desirable traits to the cross. By using the same parental pair across multiple selections, MARDI could evaluate a range of offspring and select those with the most promising combinations of yield, quality, and disease resistance.
The three resulting clones -- MDUR78 (D188), MDUR79 (D189), and MDUR88 (D190) -- were released in two batches: D188 and D189 in September 1991, and D190 in June 1992. All three were registered from Terengganu, linking them to MARDI's research activities in that state.
A critical advantage of these hybrids is their tolerance to Phytophthora patch canker, a devastating fungal disease that has destroyed countless durian trees across Southeast Asia. MARDI specifically evaluated disease resistance as part of the selection criteria, and the MDUR clones were found to show moderate to good tolerance -- a practical advantage that the DOA's earlier experimental hybrids were never assessed for in published records.
The hybrids were also noted for early fruiting, bearing fruit within 5 to 6 years of planting, and for high yield potential. These commercial attributes -- disease resistance, early production, and consistent yield -- were what distinguished the MARDI program from previous institutional breeding efforts.
Characteristics
Size and weight: Medium, averaging 1.65 kg with a range of 1.5 to 1.8 kg. This is the middle child in terms of weight among the three siblings: D189 MDUR79 averages 1.3 kg (the lightest) and D190 MDUR88 averages 1.75 kg (the heaviest).
Shape: Wide elliptic, a form shared with both sibling varieties. The consistent shape across all three clones reflects their identical parentage.
Skin color: Light yellowish-green ("hijau muda kekuningan"). This distinguishes D188 from its siblings: D189 has dark green skin, while D190 has green-yellow skin. The lighter coloring of D188 may be a useful visual identifier in mixed plantings.
Shell: Thick. This is a less desirable trait from a consumer perspective, as thick shells reduce the ratio of edible content to total fruit weight. The 20% flesh content of D188 is the lowest of the three siblings -- D189 achieves 27% -- and the thick shell is likely a contributing factor.
Flesh: Thick and yellow, with large arils of 1 to 3 per segment. The smooth texture ("tekstur halus") and creamy sweet taste ("lemak manis") describe a refined, buttery eating experience without fibrous strands. The moderate aroma places D188 at the gentler end of the durian smell spectrum.
Post-harvest behavior: Cracks 70 hours after falling. This is the most distinctive data point in D188's DOA record -- the kind of precise post-harvest measurement that reflects systematic observation over multiple fruiting seasons. For comparison, most durian varieties are described only in general terms regarding their ripening behavior.
Flesh content: 20%. This is a functional metric: out of a 1.65 kg fruit, approximately 330 grams is edible flesh. While respectable, it is notably lower than D189's 27%, which from the same average fruit size would yield significantly more edible material.
Availability
MARDI has actively encouraged farmers to cultivate MDUR78 alongside its sibling varieties MDUR79 and MDUR88. The institute has promoted all three clones as commercially viable alternatives to mainstream varieties, citing their disease resistance, early fruiting, and yield potential.
However, among the three siblings, D188 MDUR78 has received the least individual attention. D190 MDUR88 has emerged as the standout, rebranded as MS88 (MARDI Super 88) and given national-level promotion with 13,000 trees planted under MARDI supervision. D189 MDUR79's higher flesh content (27%) gives it a clear efficiency advantage. D188, with its thick shell, lower flesh content, and no distinctive rebranding, occupies the quietest position in the trio.
MDUR78 planting material is available through MARDI's channels and from nurseries that carry the institute's recommended varieties. It is not a rare germplasm curiosity like the DOA's D141-D144 hybrids -- it was designed for commercial cultivation and remains in active promotion. But it has not achieved the name recognition or market momentum of its sibling MDUR88, and it is unlikely to be found at durian stalls or in the offerings of prominent orchard operators who tend to focus on varieties with stronger consumer brand identity.
For farmers in regions affected by Phytophthora, D188 remains a practical choice: a proven hybrid with institutional backing, disease tolerance, and predictable characteristics. Its precise post-harvest cracking data (70 hours) is also operationally useful for harvest planning and logistics.