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
 

Orum, T. V., Bigelow, D. M., Nelson, M. R., Howell, D. R., and Cotty, P. J.. Feb 1997. Orum, T. V., Bigelow, D. M., Nelson, M. R., Howell, D. R., and Cotty, P. J. Plant Disease, 8:911-916

Mellon, J. E., and Cotty, P. J.. Feb 1997. The effect of sterilization, pH, filler and spore inoculum concentration on the preparation of alginate pellets. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 7:3-10

Elias, K. S., and Cotty, P. J.. Feb 1996. Incidence and stability of infection by double-stranded RNA genetic elements in Aspergillus section Flavi and effects on aflatoxigenicity. Canadian Journal of Botany, 74:716-725

Mellon, J.E., and Cotty, P.J.. Feb 1996. Purification and partieal characterization of an elastinolytic proteinase from Aspergillus flavus culture filtrates. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 46:138-142

Mellon JE, Cotty PJ, Godshall MA, Roberts E. Dec 1995. Demonstration of Aflatoxin Inhibitory Activity in a Cotton Seed Coat Xylan. Appl Environ Microbiol, 61:4409-4412

Mellon JE, Cotty PJ. Aug 1995. Expression of elastinolytic activity among isolates in Aspergillus section flavi. Mycopathologia, 131:115-20

Misaghi, I.J., Cotty, P.J. and Decianne, D.M.. Feb 1995. Bacterial Antagonists of Aspergillus flavus. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 5:387-392

Elias, K.S., and Cotty, P.J.. Feb 1995. A rose bengal amended medium for selecting nitrate-metabolism mutants from fungi. Can.J. Bot., 73:680-682

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