Prioritization of indigenous fruit tree species with domestication and commercialization potential in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Indigenous fruit tree species (IFTs) can play a crucial role in poverty alleviation and as a source of food in South Africa. Although these species contain nutrient-rich edible fruits that are also locally processed to food products such as jams and jellies, they are still underutilized and also harvested from the wild. This study aimed to prioritize in northern KwaZulu-Natal, IFTs with domestication and commercialization potential. A literature survey and focus groups were used to list tree species that produce edible fruits with this potential. Plant experts, through focus groups and reference group meetings, further ranked fruit trees using a scorecard method based on various attributes. A total of 29 prioritized IFTs was obtained, of which the Sapotaceae was the most represented family with a maximum of four species. Based on scorecard assessment, the most preferred species in descending order wereStrychnos spinosaLam.,Garcinia livingstoneiT.Anderson,Englerophytum magalismontanum(Sond.) T.D.Penn,Sclerocarya birrea(A.Rich) Hochst.,Dovyalis caffra(Hook.f. & Harv) Hook.f.,Vangueria infaustiaBurch. andBerchemia zeyheri(Sond.) Grubov.Strychnos spinosawas ranked as the first most important IFTs with a final score of 151, whereasBerchemia zeyheriwas ranked the least with the final score of 146.1. However, the final scores of all most preferred species were relatively similar to one another. The top seven species identified in this study should be considered as a baseline for future IFTs development programmes such as domestication, whereby these species are introduced to small-holder farmers and food processing industries.