Researchers have found an odour gene which gives the thorny¹ fruit its notoriously pungent² scent³.

近日，研究人员在榴莲里面发现了一种气味基因，正是此基因赋予了这种多刺水果难闻的刺鼻气味。

The discovery meant the possibility of creating "odourless or milder-tasting" fruits in future, the scientists said.

科学家们表示，这一发现意味着在未来我们可以创造出“无臭或吃起来适中”的水果。

It has sparked mixed feelings from durian aficionados⁴, who worship its signature rank smell.

但是这也使得那些喜欢这种难闻臭味的榴莲爱好者有了异议。

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".

来自新加坡的Richie Liang在脸书上写道：“没有味道的榴莲就是一个没有本质的空壳”。他还把没有那种独特气味的榴莲比喻成一个没有灵魂的人。

The researchers said the durian's distinctive⁵ odour served an important purpose to it in the wild: helping⁶ to attract animals to eat it and disperse⁷ its seeds.

研究人员表示，榴莲的特殊臭味在野生环境中起到了重要作用：它有助于吸引动物并吃掉它，进而散播种子。

The fruit is loved and loathed⁸ in equal measure. Eating durian is banned in many outdoor spaces throughout Singapore and carrying it is prohibited on public transport because of its smell.

榴莲被人们喜爱，但同样也被人厌恶。因为它的味道，新加坡的许多户外空间是禁止吃榴莲的，并且在公共交通工具上也是禁止携带的。

But its fans remain fiercely protective over retaining its controversial scent.

但榴莲的粉丝们仍然在保留其争议味道上进行着坚决保护。

"What's durian if it's odourless and tasteless? Yuck," said Manfred Man, adding that he would "never mess with nature".

Manfred Man称：“如果没有臭味、没有味道，那还是榴莲么？想想都恶心！”他还表示自己“永远不会打乱自然规律”。