Agricultural and Life Sciences (IFAS)
Folta Lab
Led by Kevin M. Folta · Horticultural Sciences
What we study
The Folta Lab studies small fruit crops, focusing on their genetics, flavors, and growth using controlled environments and functional genomics. They also explore light's role in plant development and discover small molecules like plant growth regulators.
What working here is like
- Wet lab
- Computational
- Plants
- Coding helps
- Projects
- 3
- Papers
- 5
Current projects
Functional genomics of small fruit crops
Studying the genetic basis of flavors and growth in small fruit crops.
Photomorphogenesis and controlled environments
Exploring how light affects plant development in controlled settings.
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Small Molecule Discovery - Antibiotics and Plant Growth Regulators
Identifying small molecules that regulate plant growth and have antibiotic properties.
Summaries are written by AI in plain language from public symposium abstracts and may be imperfect.
Recent papers, explained
- Low-chill apples: genetics of crisis and opportunity in a valuable fruit crop
2026 · Fruit Research
Reviews how low-chill apple varieties developed and their biology.
- From Blog to lab: testing messages to shift public opinion on gene editing
2026 · Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
Tests which video messages best shift public opinion on gene editing.
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- Plant Uptake of Arsenic, Cadmium, and Lead by Hemp, Mustard, and Kale Grown in Coconut Coir Substrate
2025 · HortScience
Tests how much arsenic, cadmium, and lead hemp, mustard, and kale absorb from coconut coir substrate.
- Acceptance of crop biotechnology requires a change in communication strategy
2025 · PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
Argues for changing how biotech innovations are communicated.
- Vertical farming goes dynamic: optimizing resource use efficiency, product quality, and energy costs
2024 · Frontiers in Science
Explores ways to improve vertical farming by adjusting resources, quality, and energy costs.
Plain-language summaries are AI-written and reviewed by us; check the paper for details.
How to reach out
Kevin M. Folta hasn't set up this page yet. Their UF Scholars profile lists their publications.