Variety selection depends mainly upon market acceptance and availability of planting material. The possibilities of double use -fruit production and use of pruning waste as animal feed- favours spineless varieties. The preferred fruit in Eritrea is orange in color. The best plants can be found in many household orchards of Senafe (Plate 1).
Spineless plants may suffer more damage from wild rodents as well as domestic ruminants, so, formal orchards with these varieties should be considered only close to household, where human presence provides a minimum level of protection. Spineless material, however, is easier to handle and better accepted for animal consumption.
Outstanding spiny plants bearing orange-coloured fruits can be found in the wild stocks of Segeneiti as well as in homestead orchards of Senafe. They can be readily incorporated into formal cultivation, given that their fruits are accepted well by the market. Plantations in isolated areas are more practical with spiny varieties (Plate 2).
An interesting spineless cultivar bearing red fruits has been identified and is under testing and propagation in nurseries of the Ministry of Agriculture. Red fruits are well accepted in foreign markets (Plate 3).
