Biography
Vincent A. Fritz was named NCROC's Director of Operation in June 2013. He held the position until his retirement on July 1, 2022.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Michigan State University, Horticulture
M.S. Michigan State University, Horticulture
B.S. Michigan State University, Entomology
AREAS OF INTEREST
Fruits and vegetables contain a vast array of naturally produced, chemical compounds. Some of these ‘phytonutrients’ have been associated with specific benefits for human health, including cancer prevention. Our program aims to increase concentration of compounds shown to benefit human health in common foods. For example, we are developing unique production systems to increase glucosinolate concentration in the cabbage family of crops. We are also looking at variability of glucosinolate concentra-tion among vegetable varieties. Our work also centers on understanding the genetic x environment interactions related to phyto-nutrient concentrations in vegetable crops. Of particular interest are the manipulation of high tunnel productions systems to achieve this goal and to conduct a comparative analysis of conventional vs. organic production systems on phytonutrient concen-tration.
SELECT PUBLICATIONS
Fujioka, Naomi, Cheryl E. Ainsli-Waldman, Pramod Upadhyaya, Steven G. Carmella, Vincent A. Fritz, Charles Rohwer, Yunhua Fan, Diane Rauch, Chap T. Le, Dorothy Hatsukami, and Stephen S. Hecht. 2014. Urinary 3,3’diindolylmethane:a biomarker of glucobras-sicin exposure and indole-3-carbinol uptake in humans. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention 23(2):282-287.
Kang,DongHee,Satish Gupta,Carl Rosen,Vincent Fritz, Ashok Singh,Yogesh Chander,Helene Murray, and Charlie Rohwer.
(2013). Antiobiotic uptake by vegetable crops from manure-applied soils.J.Agric.FoodChem. 61(42):9992-10001
Justen, V.L., V.A. Fritz, and J.D. Cohen. 2012. Seasonal variation in glucosinolate accumulation in turnips grown under photoselec-tive nettings. Hort. Environ. Biotechnol. 53(2):108–115.
Justen, V.L., J.D. Cohen, G. Gardner, and V.A. Fritz. 2011. Seasonal variation in glucosinolate accumulation in turnip cultivars grown with colored plastic mulches. HortScience 46(12):1608–1614.
Fritz, V.A., V.L. Justen, A.M. Bode, T. Schuster, and M. Wang. 2010. Glucosinolate enhancement in cabbage induced by jasmonic acid application. HortScience 45(8):1188-1191.
De Villena, Fernando A., Vincent A. Fritz, Jerry D. Cohen, and William D. Hutchison. 2007. Changes in gluconasturtiin concentra-tion in Chinese cabbage with increasing cabbage looper density. HortScience 42(6)1337-1340.
Rosen, C.J., V.A. Fritz, G.M. Gardner, S.S. Hecht, S.G. Carmella, and P.M. Kenney. 2005. Cabbage yield and glucosinolate concen-trations as affected by nitrogen and sulfur fertility. HortScience 40(5):1493-1498.