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
 

Bhatnagar, D, Cotty, PJ, Cleveland, TE. 1993. Preharvest Aflatoxin Contamination: Molecular Strategies for its Control. Pages 272-292. Editors: Spanier, AM, Okai, M, Tamura, M. Food Flavor and Safety: Molecular Analysis and Design. Washington:American Chemical Society.

Cotty, P.J., Bayman, P.. Sep 1993. Competitive Exclusion of a Toxigenic Strain of Aspergillus flavus by an Atoxigenic Strain. Phytopathology, 83:1283-1287

Elias, Karol S., Cotty, P.J.. Jun 1993. 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

Brown, R.L., Cotty, P.J., Cleveland, T.E., and Widstrom, N.W.. Feb 1993. The living embryo influences accumulation of aflatoxin in maize kernels. J. Food Protection, 56:967-971

Bayman, P. and Cotty, P.J.. Jan 1993. Genetic diversity in Aspergillus flavus: association with aflatoxin production and morphology. Can. J. Bot., 71:23-31

Diagle, D.J. and Cotty, P.J.. Dec 1992. Production of Conidia of Alternaria cassiae with Alginate Pellets. Biological Control 2, 278-281

Brown, R.L., Cleveland, T.E., Cotty, P.J. and Mellon, J.E.. Aug 1992. Spread of Aspergillus flavus in Cotton Bolls, Decay of Intercarpellary Membranes, and Production of Fungal Pectinases. Phytopathology, 82:462-467

Bayman, Paul and Cotty, P.J.. Nov 1991. Vegetative compatibility and genetic diversity in the aspergillus flavus population of a single field. CAN. J. Bot., 69:1707-1711

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