The two fruit types observed in the field and market are:

• Smooth type with a sweet taste
• Wrinkled type with a bitter taste

There is a market demand for both types. Farmers and consumers prefer medium-sized fruits.
Current OP varieties are low in production, have a limited shelflife and are susceptible to red spider mite, a major pest in Tanzania. In our breeding program at Afrisemwe work on both the sweet and the bitter types.

The first Afrisem hybrid varieties are expected to become commercially available by 2013. We expect to be able to provide varieties of the bitter and the sweet type, with increased yield, improved shelflife and a better level of resistance to red spider mite.