Research Plant Pathologist, Agricultural Research Service, USDA; Adjunct Professor, Department of Plant Sciences

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Address: P.O. Box 210036
Forbes Building, Room 303
Department of Plant Sciences
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721-0036
Phone: (520) 626-5049
E-Mail: pjcotty@email.arizona.edu

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Research Interests

Our work is directed at developing knowlege that will lead to the reduction of aflatoxins in foods, feeds, and throughout the environment.  Aflatoxins are highly toxic fungal metabolites that are known to cause cancer, retard human developmnet, and suppress immune system function.  These potent toxins have been repeatedly associated with death of both humans and domestic animals.  Aflatoxins are produced by several species in the genus Aspergillus during growth on a variety of substrates including crop plants. Crops with high aflatoxin content have greatly reduced value. We seek methods to reduce of aflatoxin contamination. Our research is directed at both the causative fungi and the contamination process.  We use variability within and among fungal communities to provide insights into many aspects of the ecology and biology of aflatoxin-producing fungi. Aspects addressed include the etiology and epidemiology of contamination, as well as, adaptation, divergence, dispersal, pathogenicity, morphogenesis, and cellular regulation. We seek to understand forces that induce and maintain variability within fungal communities, as well as, forces that influence the composition of fungal communities. This knowledge is used to develop techniques to reduce the aflatoxin producing potential of fungal communities and thus the vulnerability of crops to aflatoxin contamination. A current major emphasis is a partnership with Arizona cotton producers and gins and the Arizona Cotton Research and Protection Council. This partnership seeks to reduce the risk of aflatoxin contamination by reducing the aflatoxin producing potential of fungi resident in agricultural fields through the application of atoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus. Other aspects of our work include characterization of factors that influence aflatoxin production, and identification of crop characteristics that dictate the level of susceptibility to contamination.

Awards and Honors

• Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer, Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer, May, 2004.
• Environmental Technology Award, Arizona Farm Bureau, November 6, 2003.
• Industry Appreciation Award, Arizona Cotton Growers Association, April, 1999.
• Technology Transfer Award, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, February 10, 1998.
• Secretary's Award for Personal and Professional Excellence, United States Department of Agriculture, June 10, 1998.
• Outstanding Scientist 1993 to 1995, Southern Regional Research Center, ARS, USDA, May 8, 1996.
• Early Career Scientist, Mid-South Area, ARS, USDA, October 21, 1992.
• Outstanding Scientist 1989 to 1991, Southern Regional Research Center, ARS, USDA, March 11, 1992.

Laboratory website

http://cals.arizona.edu/research/cottylab/CottyLabHome.htm  PDF files for many of our publications are available on this site. 

Agricultural Research Service

Dr. Cotty is a scientist with the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.  He is housed in the Division of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Department of Plant Sciences, in the College of Agriculture where he serves as an Adjunct Professor.

Selected Publications