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
 

Bock, C.H., and P.J. Cotty. Dec 2006. Methods to sample air borne propagules of Aspergillus flavus. European Journal of Plant Pathology,

Jaime-Garcia, J., and P.J. Cotty. Oct 2006. Spatial distribution of Aspergillus flavus and its toxigenic strains on commercial cottonseed from south Texas and its relationship to aflatoxin contamination. Plant Pathology, 55:358-366

Ehrlich KC Kobbeman K Montalbano BG Cotty PJ. Oct 2006. Aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus species from Thailand. Int J Food Microbiol,2006 Oct 17;

Cotty, P.J., and Mellon, J.E. Feb 2006. Ecology of Aflatoxin producing fungi and biocontrol of aflatoxin contamination. Mycotoxin Research, 22, No. 2:110-117

Cotty, P.J. 2006. Biocompetitive exclusion of toxigenic fungi. Pages 179-197. Editors: Barug, D., Bhatnagar, D., van Egmond, H.P., van der Kamp, J.W., van Osenbruggen, W.A., Visconti, A. The Mycotoxin Factbook: Food and Feed Topics. Wageningen Academic Publishers.

Jaime-Garcia, R. Cotty, P.J. Jan 2006. Spatial Relationships of Soil Texture and Crop Rotation to Aspergillus flavus Community Structure in South Texas. Phytopathology, Vol. 96:599-607

Jaime-Garcia, R., Cotty, P.J. Jan 2006. Spatial distribution of Aspergillus flavus and its toxigenic strains on commercial cottonseed from south Texas and its relationship to aflatoxin contamination. Plant Pathology, 55:358-366

Ehrlich KC, Montalbano B.G., Cotty P.J.. Jun 2005. Divergent regulation of aflatoxin production at acidic pH by two Aspergillus strains. Mycopathologia, 159:579-81

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