Traditional Knowledge and Practices Related to Genus Citrus, Garcinia, Mangifera and Nephelium in Malaysia

Dominic Gerten^1*, Idris Salma², Md Sah Muhammad Shafie², Umar Shariah³, Pearlycia Brooke³, William Wai Wah Wong⁴, Md Harun Norhayati⁵

¹Strategic Resource Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Bintulu, Malaysia.
²Strategic Resource Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Serdang, Malaysia.
³Agriculture Research Centre, Department of Agriculture Sarawak, Kuching, Malaysia.
⁴Agriculture Research Centre, Department of Agriculture Sabah, Tuaran, Malaysia.
⁵Horticulture Division, Department of Agriculture Perak, Bota, Malaysia.

DOI: 10.4236/oalib.1101453                

Abstract

Asia holds massive fruit diversity. Many nutritional and functional properties studies have been done on the fruit species. However, not many studies were done on other aspects of knowledge that can be gained related to these species. The aim of this study was to identify the various uses of the tropical fruit plant species from the genus of Citrus, Garcinia, Mangifera and Nephelium, based on the traditional knowledge and practices of the local communities. The study was conducted through direct interviews with 109 respondents from six areas and communities, targeting the genus Citrus, Mangifera, Nephelium and Garcinia. A total of 18 fruit species were recorded and were categorized into five different purposes, namely for 1) food, 2) medicinal purpose, 3) culture, 4) good practice and 5) other usage. Most of the traditional knowledge related to the fruit species used was as food, food additives or processing method (54.6%). All species except Citrus spp. and Mangifera laurina have information on traditional knowledge related to food. The highest number of species was recorded from the community of Sibuti, with a total of 14 species recorded while least number was recorded from the community of Bukit Gantang with a total of 4 species. The average number of species and respondents recorded from each community was 8.5 species and 18 respondents. The two most frequently cited species were found to be regional specific knowledge. The most cited species was Mangifera pajang which is endemic to Borneo, while Garcinia atroviridis which recorded the second highest citation was only found in Peninsular Malaysia. Documentation of traditional knowledge is a good tool, not just for the conservation of traditional knowledge from being extinct and forgotten, but also to identify new potential, ideas and possibilities from it, so that it opens up to many other scientific studies.

Keywords

Malaysia, Agrobiodiversity, Tropical Fruits, Traditional Knowledge, Potential Uses, Awareness

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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