A-to-Z Index

Mike Renfroe

Mike Renfroe

Professor of Biology

B.S. - North Carolina State University
M.S. - Ohio State University
M.Phil. - Yale University
Ph.D.  - Yale University

E-mail - renfromh@jmu.edu
Phone - 540-568-6617
Fax - 540-568-3333
Office - Bioscience 1016D

Office Hours    |    Personal Home Page

Courses:   Contemporary Biology (GBIO 103), Trelawny Learning Community Seminar (BIO 201), Human Uses of Plants (BIO 364), Laboratory in Human Uses of Plants (BIO 365), Plants and Environment (BIO 366), Plant Cell and Tissue Culture (BIO 460/560).


Research Interests:  Propagation of rare and endangered species; Antioxidants in Foods and Beverages.

We use tissue culture and cryopreservation for preserving and propagating members of rare and endangered species. Germplasm conservation is an important part of protecting biodiversity. We also measure the antioxidant content of plant-derived foods and beverages.  Antioxidants are important in the maintenance of good health and as protection against cancer and a variety of human diseases.


Selected Publications:

Marques, K.K. , M.H. Renfroe, P.B.B. Brevard, R.E. Lee, J.W. Gloeckner. 2010.  Differences in antioxidant levels of fresh, frozen and freeze-dried strawberries and strawberry jam.  Int. J. of Food Sciences and Nutrition 61(8):759–769.

R.R. Murphy, M.H. Renfroe, P.B. Brevard, R.E. Lee and J.W. Gloeckner. 2009.  Cooking does not decrease hydrophilic antioxidant capacity of wild blueberries.  Int. J. Food Sciences and Nutrition 60(S2):88-98.

Renfroe, M.H., R. Hartwig and R.H. Smith.  2001.  Isolation and fusion of cotton protoplasts.  Va. J. Sci. 52(1):57-65.

Renfroe, M.H., J.T. Hitt, P.J. McNicholas, and J.F. O'Hara. 2000. Field collection of woody and herbaceous explants for in vitro culture. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology 36(3)Pt II:31A.

Jamison, J.A. and M.H. Renfroe. 1998. Micropropagation of Betula uber (Ashe) Fernald. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology - Plant 34:147-151

Renfroe, M. H. and J. Aldrich. 1997. Mechanisms of cryoprotectant injury to African violet tissue. Va. J. Science 48:110.