Introduction. Black plum (Vitexdoniana) is an indigenous fruit tree species importantfor the livelihoods of rural populations. Currently, there is renewednational and international interest in black plum, and it has emergedas a priority species for domestication in Africa. The present workaddressed farmers’ indigenous knowledge of the use and managementof the species among different socio-cultural groups in Benin, takinginto account gender differences. The specific objective of thiswork was to study the knowledge, uses, local gathering practices andmanagement systems of V. doniana that are partof the traditions of the communities in Southern Benin. Materialsand methods. A total of 150 participants randomly selected fromthree socio-cultural groups provided survey responses. Information collectedmainly referred to the motivation of respondents to conserve blackplum trees on their land, the local uses and the management practicesto improve the regeneration and production of the black plum. Resultsand discussion. The study showed that knowledge of black plumis well distributed in the community. However, people have differentinterests in using black plum and there is variable knowledge ofuse and management practices. The food and medicinal categorieswere the most important uses. There were no significant differencesin knowledge of the management and utility of black plum betweenmen and women, or across socio-cultural groups. Conclusion. Givenits value to the communities in southern Benin, black plum should beprioritized for domestication.

Introduction. Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) is a multipurpose, tropical fruit tree originating in Africa. Although the main commercial production of tamarind fruits takes place in Asia and America, tamarind plays an essential subsistence role in rural West Africa. This study highlights the importance of tamarind in traditional diets of rural communities in Benin, Mali and Senegal. Methods. Ethnobotanical field data was gathered through structured individual interviews, semi-structured group discussions, agricultural calendars and participatory mapping with 220 informants of eleven ethnic groups across four agroecological zones. Data was processed by quantitative and qualitative analytical methods. Results. Tamarind adds vitamins and minerals, as well as the traditionally appreciated sour taste, to drinks and meals. It is consumed daily and year-round by many rural West Africans. Ethnic similarities and differences in food use patterns of tamarind highlight the importance of tamarind in West African subsistence. The results include detailed descriptions of tamarind processing and traditional meal preparations of tamarind fruits, seeds, flowers and leaves. Conclusions. Documentation of local knowledge on tamarind processing and uses is needed to assist local and regional promotion and domestication efforts of tamarind to prevent a further decline in tamarind tree populations. High local use and demand for tamarind fruits and leaves in subsistence should stimulate the development of sustainable production as well as conservation efforts, in order to secure a continued harvest and satisfy local demand for this important traditional food in the future

Introduction. There has been increasing interest in the domestication potential of indigenous fruit trees. Nevertheless, our understanding of how these species’ abundance and yield of fruit is altered by ecological conditions, which is critical to foresee realistic sustainable management plans, is limited. Materials and methods. We used local ecological knowledge, presence / absence data and quantitative methods to examine the effect of ecological conditions on the distribution, abundance and yields of tamarind trees (T. indica) across three ecological regions in Benin, West Africa. Results and discussion. Rural communities’ knowledge on the species’ ecological range was congruent with scientific findings. The natural distribution of tamarind individuals was limited to the Sudanian and the Sudano-Guinean regions and their density declined with increasing moisture, being highest (2 trees·km-2) in the Sudanian region and lowest in the Guineo-Congolian region (scarce). On the other hand, fruit and pulp mass and number of seeds per fruit varied significantly, being higher in the Guineo-Congolian wetter region. However, no significant variation occurred among ecological regions for estimated overall fruit yields per tree. This might indicate that tamarind trees tend to invest in a small number of very large fruits under wetter conditions and a very large number of small fruits under dryer conditions. Conclusion. The results showed that semi-arid lands would best suit T. indica domestication. Nevertheless, its productivity could be higher under wetter conditions. Because of its affinity for gallery forests, we recommend thorough studies on its capacity to survive the increasing drought in its current ecological range.

Introduction.Detarium microcarpum Guill. et Perr., espèce forestière fruitière de la zone soudano-sahélienne, est actuellement menacée de disparition au sud du Mali suite à des actions anthropiques. L'objectif global des travaux présentés a été d'inventorier les connaissances des populations locales sur la plante afin d'acquérir des informations relatives à la caractérisation, la gestion, la protection et l'utilisation durable des ressources génétiques de D. microcarpum dans cette zone. Matériel et méthodes. Une enquête a été menée, par interviews, sur la base de questionnaires ouverts dans 23 villages (216 personnes) appartenant aux zones agro-écologiques du plateau de Koutiala au sud du Mali. Résultats et discussion. L'enquête a confirmé que l'espèce joue un rôle important sur les plans socioculturel, médicinal, écologique et environnemental au sud du Mali. Les critères d'appréciation paysans des écotypes de D. microcarpum portent surtout sur la couleur de l'écorce, la taille des feuilles et la qualité des fruits. Selon les personnes interrogées, la perpétuation de D. microcarpum passe par la réglementation de la coupe de bois et le contrôle des feux. Conclusion. Les connaissances locales permettront d'élaborer une stratégie de conservation durable de D. microcarpum. Auparavant, certains aspects devront être élucidés.