KUALA KANGSAR, July 5 — The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) has planted about 25,000 trees of the MRDI Super 88 (MS88) hybrid durian nationwide to date.

Its director-general Datuk Dr Mohamad Zabawi Abdul Ghani said the planting covers about 242 hectares, mainly in Selangor and the east coast states.

“The MS88 is one of three premium durian varieties developed by Mardi since the early 2000s, together with MDUR78 and MDUR79, which remain popular among durian enthusiasts,” he told reporters after the Duriotourism Mardi Kuala Kangsar programme with the media at the Mardi Agrotechnology Park here today.

In another development, Mohamad Zabawi said Mardi is selecting three new hybrid durian varieties with potential to be introduced as premium types to meet industry demand and consumer preference.

He said the varieties are currently being evaluated for fruit quality, consumer acceptance and suitability for cultivation by farmers.

“So far, we have several hybrids identified for future release, but they are still under selection. We want to ensure they are well received by consumers and suitable for farmers,” he said.

He added that the names of the varieties cannot yet be disclosed as they are planned for launch during the durian season, allowing the public to view and taste them. — Bernama