Researchers at UF/IFAS Explore Methods for Passion Fruit Production
July 25, 2024 
In Florida, it’s passion fruit season. According to a blog post from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), the tropical fruit goes for $3 per fruit at most supermarkets and farmers can get up to $5 for their harvest. Both price points indicate that passion fruit is becoming a “cash crop,” causing researchers to explore how to improve production.
Due to Central Florida’s cold winters and South Florida’s problems with fungal disease, passion fruit isn’t the easiest crop to produce. Ali Sarkosh, associate professor of the UF/IFAS horticultural science department, hopes to improve production all across the state.
Right now, researchers are testing new growing conditions for the tropical fruit. To protect the fruit from colder weather in Central Florida, they’ve created a tunnel system to keep it from freezing. In this system, researchers mist the fruit trees a couple hours before a frost and cover them with a tarp. According to Sarkosh, this makes the year-round harvesting of passion fruit possible.
Researchers are also attempting to develop a cold-resistant cultivar, and will eventually develop disease-resistant cultivars. As a result of these developments, the fruit won’t be affected by fusarium, a disease that causes stem and canker rot.
The primary goal of this research is for local farmers to have an advantage in the passion fruit market. Sarkosh also hopes it will provide many financial benefits for the state of Florida.
On August 1, 2024, the UF/IFAS Plant Science Research Center and Education Center will host a Passion Fruit Field Day to share exciting research updates. Leading researchers will present their findings and conduct field tours. The event is open to growers, researchers and the public to learn more about research on the tropical fruit.
For more information and to register, visit the event page.