Skip to main content
UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences logo
Give      University of Florida
Resources
    Toggle Search Form
    GIVE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
    • HOME
    • PEOPLE
          • Faculty
          • On-Campus Faculty
          • Off-Campus Faculty
          • Affiliate, Courtesy, and Emeritus Faculty
          • Staff
          • Administrative Support Staff
          • Field and Lab Staff
          • Students
          • Student Clubs
    • RESEARCH
          • Research
          • Breeding and Genetics
          • Crop Production and Management
          • Organic and Sustainable Horticulture
          • Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
          • Plant Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology
          • Posthavest Biology and Technology
          • Weed Science
          • Research Publications
          • Google Scholar
          • Statistical Consulting
          • IFAS Statistical Consulting Unit
    • UNDERGRADUATE
          • Undergraduate
          • Curriculum Options
          • Minor Options
          • Course List
          • Scholarships
          • Job Opportunities
          • Student Clubs
    • GRADUATE
          • Graduate
          • Curriculum Options
          • Course List
          • Current Student Information
          • Job Opportunities
          • Student Clubs
          • How to Apply
          • Getting Started
          • Online Application
    • EXTENSION
          • Extension
          • Extension Programs
          • Extension Faculty
          • Variety Trials
          • Extension Calendar
          • Extension Map
          • Research Publications
    • RESOURCES
          • Department
          • Fifield Hall Map
          • Google Scholar
          • Job Opportunities
          • Human Resources
          • HOS Branded Apparel
          • Seminars Hosted by Horticultural Sciences
          • Guides
          • Connecting to Network Folders
          • Remote Desktop Connection
          • UF VPN Installation and Usage
          • Zoom Installation and Usage
          • Forms
          • Department Vehicle Reservation Request
          • Digital Signage Request
          • Room Reservation Request
          • Shipment Request
          • Surplus Pickup Request
          • Website Update Request
          • HR Form
          • New Hire Demographic Form
          • OPS and Student Assistant Application
          • Employee Suggestion Form
          • Students
          • Student Clubs
          • Student Orientation Presentation
          • IT Information for Graduate Students
          • International Student Center
          • Dates and Deadlines
          • UF Library
          • IFAS
          • IFAS Homepage
          • IFAS Shared Service Centers
          • IFAS Experts
          • IFAS Divisions, Schools, and Departments
    • CONTACT
          • Social Media
          • Facebook
          • X
          • Instagram
          • Linkedin

    Horticultural Sciences

    Horticultural Sciences

    Dr. Kevin M. Folta

    Professor

    Mailing Address:
    Fifield Hall
    2550 Hull Road
    PO Box 110690
    Gainesville, Florida 32611

    Office: 2239 Fifield Hall
    Phone: (352) 273-4350
    E-mail: kfolta@ufl.edu

    • Areas of Research
      • Functional genomics of small fruit crops
      • Photomorphogenesis and controlled environments
      • Genetic basis of flavors
      • Science communication and outreach
      • Small Molecule Discovery - Antibiotics and Plant Growth Regulators
    • Teaching Responsibilities
      • FRC1010- Fruit for Fun and Profit
      • PCB6528- Plant Cell and Developmental Biology
    • Educational Background
      • Ph.D. – 1998; Molecular Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago
      • M.S.  – 1992; Biology, Northern Illinois University
      • B.S. – 1989; Biology, Northern Illinois University
    • Work Experience
      • December 2012- Present: Department Chair, Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
      • May 2012- May 2017: Visiting Scientist, Shanghai Academy for Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai China
      • July 2011 – December 2012:  Graduate Coordinator, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
      • July 2008- present: Associate Professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
      • November 2002-June 2008: Assistant Professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
      • March 2000- November 2002:  Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
    • Honors and Awards
      • University of Florida Postdoctoral Mentoring Award
      • University of Florida Foundation Research Professor, 2010
      • Northern Illinois University LA&S Golden Alumni Award (top 50 distinguished graduates) 2009
      • NSF CAREER Award, 2008
      • Howard Hughes Medical Institute Distinguished Mentor of Undergraduate Research, 2007
    • Program Personnel
      • Postdoctoral Research Associates
        • Dr. Sofia Carvalho
        • Dr. Kevin O’Grady
        • Dr. Raquel Fonseca Carvalho
      • Senior Biological Scientist
        • Maureen Clancy
      • Graduate Students
        • Christopher Barbey
        • Fadhli Mad Atari

    Selected Publications

    AuthorsYearTitle / DescriptionPublication
    Carvalho, S.D. Folta, K.M.  2014  Sequential light programs to affect kale sprout appearance and nutrition. Horticultural Research 1: 8.
    Carvalho, S.D., Folta, K.M.  2014 Environmentally-modified organisms: Expanding plant genetic potential with light. Critical Reviews in Plant Science. 33:486-508.
    Chambers, A.H., Plotto, A., Bai, J., Whitaker, V.M.,Folta, K.M. 2014 Identification of a strawberry flavor gene using an integrated genetic-genomic-analytical chemistry approach. BMC Genomics 15: 217.
    Zhang, Q., Folta, K.M., Davis, T.M.  2014 Somatic embryogenesis, tetraploidy, and variant leaf morphology in transgenic diploid strawberry (Fragaria vesca subspecies vesca ‘Hawaii 4’). BMC Plant Science 14: 14-232.
    Chambers, A.H., Evans, S.A., Folta, K.M. 2014 Methyl anthranilate and γ-decalactone inhibit strawberry pathogen growth and achene germination. Journal of Agricultural and Food Science 61: 12625-12633.
    Wang, Y., Folta, K.M. 2013 Contributions of green light to plant growth and development. Am. J. Bot. 100: 70-78.
    Chambers, A., Carle, S., Njuguna, W., Chamala, S., Bassil, N., Whitaker, V., Barbazuk, W.B., Folta, K.M.  2013 A genome-enabled, high-throughput, and multiplexed fingerprinting platform for strawberry (Fragaria L.). Molecular Breeding : 1-15.
    Wang, Y., Maruhnich, S.A., Mageroy, M.H., Justice, J.R., Folta, K.M. 2013 Phototropin 1 and cryptochrome action in response to green light in combination with other wavelengths. 237:225-237.
    Folta, K.M.  2012 Functionalizing the Strawberry Genome. Int'l J. Fruit Science 13: 162-174.
    Chambers, A., Whitaker, V.M., Gibbs, B., Plotto, A., Folta, K.M. 2012 Detection of the linalool-producing NES1 variant across diverse strawberry (Fragaria spp.) accessions. Plant Breeding 131, 437-443.
    University of Florida Logo
    Contact

    Feedback
    Horticultural Sciences Department
    2550 Hull Road, PO Box 110690, Gainesville FL 32611-0690
    (352) 392-1928

    Land Grant Mission
    • Teaching
    • Research
    • Extension
    Information
    • Ask IFAS (EDIS)
    • UF/IFAS Experts
    • UF/IFAS Blogs
    • UF/IFAS Bookstore
    Policy
    • Accessible UF
    • EEO Statement
    • IFAS Web Policy
    • SSN & UF Privacy
    • Analytics (Google Privacy)

    © 2025 University of Florida, IFAS Last Modified:Mon, 31 Jan 2022 10:53:12 EST