Dr. Peter Cotty
Research Plant Pathologist
Agricultural Research Service
USDA
Division of Plant Pathology and Microbiology
Adjunct Professor

Marley Building, Room 341B
Phone: (502) 626-5049
Email: pjcotty@email.arizona.edu
 

Visit these web-sites to learn more about Dr. Cotty and his research

 
   
Background and Interests
 
Research: Aflatoxin contamination of crops is a severe problem in many parts of the world. Over the next five years we hope to develop improved methods for limiting aflatoxin contamination. Our research is directed at developing solutions to aflatoxin problems through both practical field based studies and fundamental investigations into the physiology, genetics, and biology of aflatoxin producing fungi. Field based studies emphasize industry collaborations in Arizona, Texas, and California. A key aspect of the lab's work is development of novel biocontrol strategies through close collaborations with the Arizona Cotton Research and Protection Council including development of commercial scale processes for producing biocontrol material at a grower-run facility in Phoenix. Fundamental aspects include regulation of aflatoxin biosynthesis and it's interaction with morphogenesis, divergence of aflatoxin producing fungi, hydrolase production by aflatoxin producers, identification of adaptive fungal characters, characterization of host-fungal interactions that dictate extent of contamination, epidemiology of aflatoxin contamination, and population biology of aflatoxin producers. For over a decade the laboratory has been involved in characterizing the diversity of aflatoxin producers, clarifying the etiology of contamination, describing geographical and physiological divergence among strains. This work continues and interests in both vegetative incompatibility and intra-specific competition within Aspergillus flavus remain an emphasis.

 
Selected Publications
 

Fedorova ND, Harris S, Chen D, Denning DW, Yu J, Cotty, PJ, Nierman WC. Mar 2009. Using aCGH to study intraspecific genetic variability in two pathogenic molds, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. Medical Mycology, 47:S34-S41

Grubisha LC, Cotty PJ. Jan 2009. Twenty-four microsatellite markers for the aflatoxin-producing fungus Aspergillus flavus. Molecular Ecology Resources, 9:264–267

Donner M, Atehnkeng J, Sikora AR, Bandyopadhyay R, Cotty PJ. Jan 2009. Distribution of Aspergillus section flavi in soils of maize filds in three agroecological zones of Nigeria. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 41:37-44

Atehnkeng J, Ojiambo PS, Ibotun T, Sikora RA, Cotty PJ, and Bandyopadhyay R. Oct 2008. Evaluation of atoxigenic isolates of Aspergillus flavus as potential biological control agents for aflatoxin in maize. Food Additives and Contaminants, 25:1264-1271

Cotty, PJ, Probst, C., and Jaime-Garcia, R.. 2008. Etiology and management of aflatoxin contamination. Pages 287-299. Leslie, JF, Bandyopadhyay, R, Visconti, A. Mycotoxins: Detection Methods, Management, Public Health, and Agricultural Trade. Oxfordshire:CAB International.

Hell K, Fandohan P, Bandyopadhyay R, Kiewnick S, Sikora, R, Cotty PJ. 2008. Pre- and postharvest management of aflatoxin in maize: An African perspective. Pages 219-229. Leslie JF, Bandyopadhyay R, and Visconti A.. Mycotoxins: Detection Methods, Management, Public Health, and Agricultural Trade. Oxfordshire:CAB International.

Fedorova ND, Khaldi N, Joardar VS, Maiti R, Amedeo P, Anderson MJ, Crabtree J, Silva JC, Badger JH, Albarraq A, Angiuoli S, Bussey H, Bowyer P, Cotty PJ, Dyer PS, Egan A, Galens K, Fraser-Liggett CM,. Apr 2008. Genomic islands in the pathogenic filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Plos Genetics, 4:e1000046:1-13

Rajasekaran K, Cary JW, Cotty PJ, Cleveland TE. Mar 2008. Development of a GFP expressing Aspergillus flavus strain to study fungal invasion, colonization, and resistance in cottonseed. Mycopathologia, 165:89-97

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