One of nature's smelliest secrets may have been revealed, thanks to a dedicated team of durian-loving scientists in Singapore. Researchers have found an odour gene which gives the thorny fruit its notoriously pungent scent. The discovery meant the possibility of creating "odourless or milder-tasting" fruits in future, the scientists said. It has sparked mixed feelings from durian aficionados, who worship its signature rank smell. "A durian without its smell is nothing but an empty shell with no essence," wrote Singaporean Richie Liang on Facebook, who also compared "a durian without its unique smell" to "a human being who has lost his or her soul". After three years of research, privately funded
Secret of the world's smelliest fruit revealed
Daily Mail
What’s that smell? Secrets of famously pungent durian fruit revealed
Once described by a detractor as smelling of "turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock", southeast Asia's durian fruit leaves no-one unmoved -- you either adore or abhor it. Popular in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, the spiny, stinky delicacy is banned from public transport and many hotels. On Monday, scientists from Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia published the DNA blueprint of the common durian, Durio zibethinus -- laying bare the genes responsible for its unique traits.