The present study aimed at contributing to a better sociocultural knowledge of S. nigrum through an inventory of local knowledges and the identification of characters of interest for farmers. Fifty-two (52) accessions were collected from thirty-six (36) villages across eleven (11) provinces. The survey was carried out using a semi-structured interviews method with 209 producers, traders and consumers. The majority of the respondents was female (85%), aged between 30 and 45 years (84%). Around 88% of respondents reported they never ate this leafy vegetable. Thirteen (13) vernacular names were registered from the respondents. Phenotypic characteristics such as the color and size of the leaves and organoleptic characteristics such as the taste of these leaves are criteria used by farmers for naming the local accessions of S. nigrum. Meanwhile, the study revealed that farmers obtain their seeds through purchases, donations, self-production or by direct collection of ecotypes in spontaneous environments and in cultivated environments. This survey also revealed a lack of knowledge on this vegetable by some consumers and producers, especially in urban areas. In Burkina Faso, the crop is mainly produced by the Mossi, Bissa, Gurunsi and Dioula ethnic groups. In fact, these ethnic entities use the leaves of this plant as leafy vegetables for sale and for cooking traditional dishes. The leaves constitute organs of interest to local populations who use them as food. The results of this study could make it possible to undertake varietal improvement of this species according to the needs of consumers and producers.

Solanum nigrum, Burkina Faso, farmers’ knowledge, leafy vegetables