The importance of an indigenous tree to southern African communities with specific relevance to its domestication and commercialization: a case of the marula tree

Abstract

Local communities in southern Africa derive many benefi ts from marula [Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst. subsp. caffra (Sond.) Kokwaro]. These include the contribution of this species towards health, nutrition, food security and conservation by sharing local skills and knowledge related to it. Marula fruits can be eaten fresh, squeezed to make juice, brewed in traditional beer or used to make jam and jelly. The kernels are also edible and can be pressed to extract oil for cooking and cosmetics, i.e., for skin and hair application. The bark, roots, seeds and leaves are exploited for traditional medicinal purposes. Marula has acquired signifi cant commercial value since its fruits and other products have entered local, regional and international trade in southern Africa. To diversify fruit production and satisfy the increasing demands for this resource, several domestication initiatives have been carried out at regional and international levels. The accumulated knowledge and skills relevant to the establishment and commercialization of marula therefore provide an effective guide in areas where marula remains undomesticated or underutilized. We discuss the great importance of marula in southern Africa to reveal its great potential to regions where it remains unexploited.

Commercially Important Medicinal Plants of South Africa: A Review

“…All parts of the marula tree can be used, making it one of the most valuable cultural and economic resources in southern Africa [144]. Its potential to generate cash income makes it a principally signi�cant tree species which deserves more consideration in terms of utilization [130].…”

Diurnal changes in photosynthesis in Sclerocarya birrea from South Africa and Israel after introduction and acclimatization in Wenshan, Yunnan Province, China

“…caffra (Sond.) Kokwaro (Anacardiaceae), known as marula in English, is a common tree species in the semi-arid, deciduous savannas of sub-Saharan Africa Nghitoolwa et al, 2003;Viljoen et al, 2008;Mokgolodi et al, 2011). Due to its drought resistance and tolerance of poor soils, S. birrea grows well under dry and hot conditions even with a mean annual total rainfall as low as 200 mm (Nghitoolwa et al, 2003;Mokgolodi et al, 2011).…”

“…Kokwaro (Anacardiaceae), known as marula in English, is a common tree species in the semi-arid, deciduous savannas of sub-Saharan Africa Nghitoolwa et al, 2003;Viljoen et al, 2008;Mokgolodi et al, 2011). Due to its drought resistance and tolerance of poor soils, S. birrea grows well under dry and hot conditions even with a mean annual total rainfall as low as 200 mm (Nghitoolwa et al, 2003;Mokgolodi et al, 2011). As an important edible, medicinal, and economic tree species of high ecological, cultural, and commercial value, S. birrea is used widely by local peoples Wynberg et al, 2002;Nghitoolwa et al, 2003;Mokgolodi et al, 2011).…”

“…Due to its drought resistance and tolerance of poor soils, S. birrea grows well under dry and hot conditions even with a mean annual total rainfall as low as 200 mm (Nghitoolwa et al, 2003;Mokgolodi et al, 2011). As an important edible, medicinal, and economic tree species of high ecological, cultural, and commercial value, S. birrea is used widely by local peoples Wynberg et al, 2002;Nghitoolwa et al, 2003;Mokgolodi et al, 2011). Of all the fruit trees indigenous to South Africa, it has attracted the most attention worldwide for domestication and commercialization (Shackleton, 1996;Wynberg et al, 2002).…”

“…To popularize and further exploit its potential, S. birrea has been introduced and domesticated globally. The successful domestication of S. birrea in southern Africa and Israel during the past century (Wynberg et al, 2002;Nghitoolwa et al, 2003) provides a theoretical and practical basis for introduction into other countries (Mokgolodi et al, 2011).…”