Alignment of farmers’ perception with quantitative fruit morphotypes of Sclerocarya birrea in Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Sclerocarya birrea has long played a central role in rural communities’ livelihoods, culture and spirituality. This study assessed the morphological variation in Sclerocarya birrea by integrating local knowledge with morphological studies to inform domestication strategies. Semi-structured individual interviews with 336 informants across two phytogeographic sectors were conducted to collect data on perceived morphological variation and preferred traits. Quantitative morphological data on 1126 fruits from 60 trees were recorded. Univariate and multivariate methods were used for data analysis. Ten criteria were used to describe morphological variation in Sclerocarya birrea based on fruit, leaf, seed and whole-tree characteristics. The preferred variants, cited most frequently, were female trees (100%), large fruits (71.65%), sweet pulp (61.29%), high pulp volume (49.36%) and a high number of seeds (63.32%). Morphological descriptors of fruits showed significant variation between trees within locations at the phytogeographic level ( p < 0.001). Four morphotypes were distinguished through hierarchical clustering. Morphotypes 1 and 2 had the smallest fruits, Morphotype 3 had intermediate fruits and Morphotype 4 had the largest fruits. This study highlights that local people hold valuable knowledge of the phenotypic variation of Sclerocarya birrea . High convergence between farmers’ perceptions and morphological data highlights the value of local knowledge for guiding further domestication programmes of this species. Significance of the study What is already known on this subject? Sclerocarya birrea is a key indigenous fruit tree in sub-Saharan Africa, widely used for food, income and cultural purposes. Previous studies have documented its nutritional value and some morphological variability. However, limited research has integrated local knowledge with quantitative morphological analysis to guide domestication. What are the new findings? This study demonstrates a strong convergence between farmers’ perceptions and measured morphological traits. Four distinct morphotypes were identified, with Morphotype 4 characterized by significantly larger and heavier fruits. The study also identifies the north Sudanian sector, particularly Wayen, as a priority area for germplasm collection. What are the expected impacts on horiticulture? The findings provide a scientific basis for selecting superior morphotypes for domestication and improvement programmes. Integrating local knowledge with morphological data can accelerate varietal selection, enhance fruit yield and pulp production and support the sustainable cultivation and conservation of Sclerocarya birrea in West Africa