Six distinct market samples of Dacryodes edulis (safou/African plum) with different fruit colour were characterized in terms of morphological, sensory and nutritional traits that can guide the selection of high-value individual trees for cultivar development. The morphological characteristics assessed were: fruit length, fruit width, fruit and flesh weights, flesh thickness and pulp/fruit ratio, while the sensory characteristics were: acidity, aroma astringency, bitterness, oiliness, preference, fibrousness and sourness. In addition, the biochemical composition (carbohydrates, ash, protein, lipids, dietary fibres, vitamin C, iron, calcium and phosphorus contents) was determined. These attributes all showed great variability, suggesting their importance in the identification of multi-trait ideotypes for potential cultivar development.
