Passion fruit is one of the few tropical fruit species with production potential for the USVI because of its ability to tolerate the endemic calcareous soils and the semiarid climate deter leaf and fruit diseases that are common in the humid tropical areas. The local population of carpenter bees pollinate the flowers to assure fruit set. Fruit production on the local passion fruit vines are however, low compared to the amount of vigorous growth and foliage produced. Passion fruit germplasm is being evaluated for selection of more productive and efficient water use cultivars. Trellis systems involving one or three wires are also being studied to determine production and wind tolerance in case of a hurricane. Molecular genetic markers are being used to characterize the plant material. This is, in essence, developing a DNA fingerprint for identification of the germplasm. By applying this technology to passion fruit germplasm, cultivar identification and integrity will be developed for the locally grown cultivar and commercially grown passion fruit.