About

Marvin Pritts is a professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science, specializing in Horticulture and Global Development. His professional goal is to integrate teaching, extension, and research activities into a scholarly, credible, and relevant program that benefits multiple audiences. He emphasizes effective communication with diverse groups, ranging from preschool children to professionals, and strives to be a broadly informed resource on issues affecting the food system, including food choice, sustainability, food safety, and food quality. Pritts has served as department chair for 13 years, playing a significant role in merging departments between the Geneva and Ithaca campuses and establishing the School of Integrative Plant Science. Since August 2015, he has been the Director of Undergraduate Studies for SIPS. His research focuses on developing sustainable production methods for berry crops, with particular attention to environmental modifications such as high and low tunnels to produce tender crops in colder climates and extend the growing season. He investigates non-herbicidal weed management approaches, cultural practices to reduce pest damage, and the physiological responses of berry crops to environmental factors to improve plant growth and productivity. Pritts is committed to outreach and extension efforts aimed at educating the public on food system issues, sustainability, and food safety, with a broad national and regional audience that includes commercial growers, youth, and adults. He also develops materials to promote food safety on farms and occasionally presents and consults internationally. His contributions include numerous publications, awards, and recognition for his service and research in horticulture and berry crop production.

Research topics

• Horticulture
• Biology
• Ecology
• Agronomy
• Toxicology

Selected publications

• A Prototype Crop Management Platform for Low-Tunnel-Covered Strawberries Using Overhead Power Cables

  AgriEngineering · 2025-07-02

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The continuous and reliable operation of autonomous systems is important for farm management decision making, whether such systems perform crop monitoring using imaging systems or crop handling in pruning and harvesting applications using robotic manipulators. Autonomous systems, including robotic ground vehicles, drones, and tractors, are major research efforts of precision crop management. However, these systems may be less effective or require specific customizations for planting systems in low tunnels, high tunnels, or other environmentally controlled enclosures. In this work, a compact and lightweight crop management platform is developed that uses overhead power cables for continuous operation over row crops, requiring less human intervention and independent of the ground terrain conditions. The platform does not carry batteries onboard for its operation, but rather pulls power from overhead cables, which it also uses to navigate over crop rows. It is developed to be modular, with the top section consisting of mobility and power delivery and the bottom section addressing a custom task, such as incorporating additional sensors for crop monitoring or manipulators for crop handling. This prototype illustrates the infrastructure, locomotive mechanism, and sample usage of the system (crop imaging) in the application of low-tunnel-covered strawberries; however, there is potential for other row crop systems with regularly spaced support structures to adopt this platform as well.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Pawpaw: An Underutilized Tree with Potential

  Journal of American Pomological Society · 2025-01-22

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Pawpaw [Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal] is an endemic North American tree that is gaining commercial interest because it produces desirable, nutritious fruit for human consumption. The plant evolved in the forest understory and can grow well in shaded and sunny environments. As a native tree, there are few arthropod pests or diseases, thus, the trees require few pesticide inputs. The acetogenins synthesized by the tree can be used as natural pesticides or in cancer therapy treatment. Pawpaw is primarily propagated by seed in nurseries, and cultivars are grafted via the whip-and-tongue and chip bud methods. However, there are several challenges that limit wider adoption of pawpaw production in North America including the lack of an adequate tissue culture protocol for clonal propagation, poor understanding of fruit physiology, and lack of rootstocks for commercial production. Modern biotechnology serves as viable option for overcoming these challenges and accelerating the development of pawpaw for commercial production.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• First-year Class Instills Confidence in Nontechnical Skills for Collegiate Success

  HortTechnology · 2025-02-07

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Universities are encouraging academic units to offer introductory courses that include content to help new students adapt and adjust to college life, deal with stress, and plan for future careers. Few studies have identified the level of confidence that students have in these skills when they matriculate or after completing such courses. For 3 years, first-year plant science majors were surveyed at the beginning and end of their first semester at Cornell to determine whether a class focused on improving skills for success (PLSCI 1101: Pathways to Success in Plant Sciences) resulted in enhanced confidence. Skills and practices deemed important for success and targeted in class included study habits, constructing a resume, interviewing effectively, developing cultural humility, discovering one’s identity, managing mental health, approaching faculty, exploring graduate school, and learning about plant science careers. Assessing these skills with standard fact-based testing methods is not effective, so we assessed change in confidence during the semester, allowing students to self-assess their own learning. We also were able to examine differences in responses based on gender and matriculation status (freshmen admits vs. transfers) and found that differences were minor across years. The course was most effective at enhancing confidence in knowing about graduate school, learning about faculty interests, writing a resume, and learning about career options. Students entering the class already had a high level of confidence in their ability to manage stress, interview well, talk with faculty, ask questions in class, and study. However, confidence always improved by every measure from the beginning to the end of the semester, and many of these changes were statistically significant. This class succeeded in building confidence in specific skills and practices necessary for a successful college career and future employment.

  PublisherDOI

• Manipulating Propagule Type and Interrow Ground Cover to Influence Flowering Time, Yield, Fruit Quality, and Harvest Dates in the Day-neutral Strawberry ‘Albion’

  HortTechnology · 2025-01-13

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  We examined methods of producing day-neutral strawberries in a north temperate climate using alternatives to standard bare-root propagules and clean cultivation between plant rows. Fragaria × ananassa ‘Albion’ were planted in plastic-covered raised beds in Ithaca, NY, USA, for each of the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. Plants were selected from the following four propagule types from different developmental stages: standard bare-root plants set in early May; bare-root plants started in the greenhouse in February and planted in early May; bare-root plants started in the greenhouse in March and planted in early May; and plug plants set in the field in fall (Aug 2021 and Oct 2022) of the previous year. To determine if pollination could be enhanced, each type of plant was grown in plots in the field with one of the following between rows: bare ground; a diverse flowering groundcover; or exclusion netting on hoops over the strawberry plants when they were flowering. Pollinators visiting strawberries were observed weekly and identified to species when possible. Fruits were collected weekly and marketable and unmarketable yields were measured through the harvest season. Fall-planted plugs produced significantly higher marketable yields than those of other propagule types in both years. Bare-root plants set in early May had the lowest yield. Percent marketable yield varied depending on the growing year because of drastically different weather conditions. There was no evidence that flowering groundcover attracted pollinators to the strawberry plants because strawberries had few pollinator visits, regardless of the surrounding vegetation. Exclusion netting had significantly higher percent marketable yield and total yield than the those of other groundcover types despite lower percent fruit set, likely because of the benefits of tarnished plant bug exclusion.

  PublisherDOI

• Novel Low Tunnel Coverings and Plant Type Affect Productivity of Day-neutral Strawberries

  HortTechnology · 2024-05-23 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Growers producing day-neutral strawberries ( Fragaria × ananassa ) in temperate climates face challenges when attempting to extend the season and mitigate the effects of rain. Conventional plastic coverings over low tunnels have been used for these purposes, but they often exacerbate heat-induced problems in summer. We examined two approaches for addressing this challenge. The first was to start dormant bare root ‘Albion’ strawberry plants in small pots in the greenhouse, then plant them into the field in spring so they could begin production before the onset of consistently high temperatures. Plants set in small pots on 26 Feb in the greenhouse and field planted on 6 May were compared with bare root plants set directly into the field on 6 May. The second approach used various low tunnel coverings to modify the light and temperature environment around the plants. Three coverings were woven nets embedded with reflective strips at various densities that allowed 50%, 60%, and 70% light transmission, and these were intended to lower temperatures under the covers by reflecting infrared radiation. A fourth covering was a polyethylene plastic embedded with optically active additives that shift incident light into wavelengths that are more photosynthetically active. Two other covers were standard commercial polyethylene plastics, and the final treatment was an uncovered control. Over the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons (hot and dry vs. moderate and wet, respectively), plots were harvested once or twice a week from June through October and fruit yield, size, and marketability were assessed. In both years, strawberry plants started in the greenhouse produced significantly higher yields than bare root plants over the season (30.5% and 43.7%). Bare root plants were less responsive to cover type than greenhouse plants. In 2020, yields tended to be higher in the middle of summer in plots with reflective coverings that reduced temperature and higher later in the season with coverings of wavelength-shifting film. Polyethylene covers that increased temperature without shifting the light spectrum had lower yields. Under the cooler conditions of 2021, plants under covers that increased temperature tended to have higher yields. In a third year (2023), bare root plants were covered with a reflective covering from 29 Jun until 1 Sep, then this cover was replaced with polyethylene with optical additives as the weather cooled and light levels dropped. This sequenced treatment was compared with uncovered plots and plots covered with standard commercial polyethylene plastic. Plants under the two-phase sequential covering performed significantly better than uncovered plots or those covered with standard polyethylene plastic alone.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A Current View on Strawberry Production Practices and Trends in the Northeastern United States and Canada

  HortTechnology · 2024-09-09 · 9 citations

  articleOpen access

  Strawberries ( Fragaria ×ananassa ) are an important crop for diversified fruit and vegetable farms in the northeastern United States as well as in Ontario and Québec, Canada. The industry in this cold climate region differs greatly from that in the major strawberry-producing states of Florida and California because strawberries typically represent a smaller share of total farm revenue and are sold primarily through retail markets. In recent years, strawberry production and marketing methods in the northeastern United States and Canada have diversified to meet the unique challenges of the region, including regional demand, extended seasons, and management of an increasingly challenging pest and disease complex. In 2020, we distributed an online survey to 163 commercial producers to obtain a snapshot of marketing and production practices used on strawberry-producing farms in this region and to assess research and outreach needs to better serve the industry. We conducted in-depth case study interviews with a small number of producers after the survey. We found that traditional June-bearing strawberry production continues to represent >50% of production, and that most fruit are grown conventionally. Day-neutral strawberry production was reported by an increased number of producers in New York as well as in Canada, and a higher percentage of day-neutral growers, compared to that of June-bearing producers, reported using protected culture. Botrytis (gray mold), weeds, and leaf spots were the top overall pest pressures indicated by growers. Survey respondents preferred written outreach materials and on-farm meetings to obtain information. Integrated pest management, organic production, and cultivar performance were the top priorities for subjects. The survey and interviews also provided information about the most common strategies for winter protection, frequency of pesticide applications, lifespan of plantings, and other current strawberry production practices in the region. Our survey results may be used by researchers and extension professionals to better serve this diversifying industry.

  PublisherDOI

• Twospotted Spider Mite Preference and Performance onDay-Neutral Strawberry in New York and Role of StructuralCharacteristics in Plant Susceptibility

  Journal of American Pomological Society · 2022-07-01

  articleOpen access

  Growing strawberries ( Fragaria× ananassaDuch.) under plastic low tunnels is increasing in popularity among growers in the northeastern U.S. despite reports of higher Tetranychus urticaeKoch (TSSM) pressure in this system. This study evaluated differences in susceptibility to TSSM among cultivars that are commonly planted in the Northeast. A second objective was to quantify differences in key structural characteristics (trichome density, leaflet area, average number of leaflets, and total above-ground biomass) that may contribute to variation in cultivar susceptibility to TSSM. We evaluated TSSM preference and performance using leaf disc and whole plant assays in the lab/greenhouse, and in the field at several commercial sites. Performance tests conducted on leaf discs yielded inconclusive results, but ‘Albion’ and especially ‘Seascape’ were identified as the least preferred cultivars by TSSM when assessed on whole plants. Of the structural characteristics measured, total above-ground biomass was the best predictor of TSSM number per leaflet, with larger plants having lower TSSM counts on leaflets. Total numbers of TSSM on whole plants were also higher on ‘Seascape’ which was the smallest cultivar tested in our study in terms of plant weight and leaflet area. However, there was no correlation between TSSM counts per leaflet and yield for any of the cultivars tested in the field. We discuss potential explanations for these results with implications on TSSM management under low tunnels.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Strawberry Flavor Is Influenced by the Air Temperature Differential during Fruit Development but Not Management Practices

  Agronomy · 2021-03-23 · 8 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  The majority of cultivated strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) in the northern United States (US) and Canadian provinces is grown in perennial matted rows across a range of soil types and microclimates. Management practices vary in fertilization rates, intensity of pesticide use, and the source of inputs depending on grower preferences. The objective of this study was to identify environmental and management factors that influence strawberry flavor attributes across a range of production systems. The cultivar Jewel was selected for its popularity in this region and reputation for excellent flavor. “Jewel” was sampled from regional farms and, concurrently, grown in a controlled field study with different inputs over three years. Soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) across farms was found to be positively associated with the air temperature differential during fruit ripening. In controlled field studies, yield was correlated positively with total N in the form of synthetic urea, but not with the rate of applied organic nitrogen (N). Despite different levels of soil carbon inputs, N rates, pesticides, and microbial supplements, the fruit quality attributes, including SSC, TA, aromatic volatile concentration, and phenolics were not associated with treatment. A human sensory evaluation found no perceptible differences in flavor or aroma among contrasting treatments. Our study concludes that growers should invest in temperature management, rather than agricultural inputs, to influence SSC and TA of strawberry.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The effect of plastic low tunnels on natural enemies and pollinators in New York strawberry

  Crop Protection · 2021 · 14 citations

  • Biology
  • Horticulture
  • Ecology
  PublisherDOI

• Sugar Concentration in Strawberry is Influenced byTemperature During Fruit Development

  Journal of American Pomological Society · 2021-07-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Day neutral strawberries ( Fragaria × ananassaDuch.) produce fruit over several months, even in climates with cold winters. Air temperatures during these long fruiting periods can range from near freezing to close to 40 ˚C. We divided fruit development into four developmental stages and divided the typical air temperature range during the growing season into four non-overlapping intervals from 7 to 32 ˚C. We sampled fruit from a day neutral strawberry planting approximately once a week from July to Nov., calculated the number of hours that individual fruits were exposed to a particular temperature interval during each of the four developmental stages, then correlated this number with the soluble solids concentration (SSC) of the harvested fruit. We found that warm air temperature exposure (16 - 23 ˚C) early in fruit development was positively correlated with final SSC at harvest, but SSC increased further when fruits were exposed to cooler air temperatures (7 - 15 ˚C) for the 15 days prior to harvest. Exposure to air temperatures above 24 ˚C at any developmental stage resulted in fruit with lower SSC. Our data provide field validation that strawberry sweetness is highest under moderately cool temperatures, and sugar concentration is reduced when developing fruits are exposed to hot (>24 ˚C) temperatures as fruit approach ripening. It may be possible for growers to minimize the amount of time air temperatures exceed 24 ˚C by using evaporative cooling, reflective low tunnel coverings or shade cloth to enhance the sugar concentration of fruit.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• James F. Hancock

  Michigan State University

  82 shared

• James J. Luby

  University of Minnesota

  66 shared

• Stephen L. Krebs

  65 shared

• Pete Callow

  Michigan State University

  65 shared

• G.P. Pavlis

  North Carolina State University

  64 shared

• James R. Ballington

  North Carolina State University

  64 shared

• Nicholi Vorsa

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  64 shared

• John M. Smagula

  64 shared

Awards & honors

• CALS Faculty Award for Outstanding Service (2014)
• SUNY Chancellor's Award for Faculty Service (2014)
• SUNY Distinguished Service Award (2012)
• North American Strawberry Growers Association CALS Outstandi…
• CALS Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award (2011)