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.