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
 

Mellon JE, Dowd MK, Cotty PJ. Jan 2002. Time course study of substrate utilization by Aspergillus flavus in medium simulating corn (Zea mays) kernels. J Agric Food Chem, 50:648-52

Cotty, PJ. 2001. Cottonseed Losses and Myctoxins. Pages 9-13. Editors: Kirkpatrick, TL, Rothrock, CS. Compendium of Cotton Diseases, 2nd Edition. St. Paul:APS Press.

Bhatnagar, D, Cotty, PJ, Cleveland, TE. 2001. Genetic and Biological Control of Aflatoxigenic Fungi. Pages 208-240. Editors: Wilson, CL, and Droby, S. Microbial Food Contamination. Boca Rotan:CRC Press.

Brown RL, Chen ZY, Cleveland TE, Cotty PJ, Cary JW. Mar 2001. Variation in in vitro alpha-amylase and protease activity is related to the virulence of Aspergillus flavus isolates. J Food Prot, 64:401-4

Boyd, M.L. and Cotty, P.J.. Feb 2001. Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination of leguminous trees of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. Phytopathology, 91:913-919

Mellon JE, Cotty PJ, Dowd MK. Aug 2000. Influence of lipids with and without other cottonseed reserve materials on aflatoxin B(1) production by Aspergillus flavus. J Agric Food Chem, 48:3611-5

Mellon, J.E. and Cotty, P.J.. Jul 1999. Raffinose Content May Influence Cottonseed Susceptibility to Aflatoxin Contamination. JAOCS, 76:883-886

Cotty PJ, Cardwell KF. May 1999. Divergence of West African and North American communities of Aspergillus section Flavi. Appl Environ Microbiol, 65:2264-6

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