Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Pest Management and Biocontrol Research » People & Locations » Hillary Mehl
Hillary Mehl
Research Plant Pathologist


Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon Reprint Icon will take you to the publication reprint.)
Identification and pathogenicity of Fusarium species associated with preharvest maize ear rot in Ethiopia - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Structure of Aspergillus flavus populations associated with maize in Greece, Spain, and Serbia: Implications for aflatoxin biocontrol on a regional scale - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ouadhene, M.A., Callicott, K.A., Ortega-Beltran, A., Mehl, H.L., Cotty, P.J., Battilani, P. 2024. Structure of Aspergillus flavus populations associated with maize in Greece, Spain, and Serbia: Implications for aflatoxin biocontrol on a regional scale. Environmental Microbiology Reports. 16(2). Article e13249. https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-2229.13249.
Fusarium boothii, Fusarium meridionale, and Fusarium temperatum are emerging preharvest maize ear rot pathogens in Ethiopia - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Temesgen, D., Adugna, G., Suresh, L.M., Bekeko, Z., Iriarte-Broders, G., Vaughan, M.M., Proctor, R., Mehl, H.L., Prasanna, B.M., Opoku, J. 2024. Fusarium boothii, Fusarium meridionale, and Fusarium temperatum are emerging preharvest maize ear rot pathogens in Ethiopia. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-12-23-2765-SR.
Telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of the aflatoxin biocontrol agent Aspergillus flavus isolate La3279 isolated from maize in Nigeria - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Legan, A.W., Mehl, H.L., Wissotski, M., Adhikari, B.N., Callicott, K.A. 2024. Telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of the aflatoxin biocontrol agent Aspergillus flavus isolate La3279 isolated from maize in Nigeria. Microbiology Resource Announcements. 13. Article e00696-23. https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00696-23.
Nanopore PCR-cDNA sequencing of the biocontrol isolate Aspergillus flavus AF36 (NRRL 18543) informs gene annotation - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Legan, A.W., Mehl, H.L., Varaksa Jr., A.A., Callicott, K.A. 2023. Nanopore PCR-cDNA sequencing of the biocontrol isolate Aspergillus flavus AF36 (NRRL 18543) informs gene annotation. Microbiology Resource Announcements. 12. Article e00527-23. https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.00527-23.
Complete genome of the toxic mold Aspergillus pseudotamarii isolate NRRL 25517 reveals genomic instability of the aflatoxin biosynthesis cluster - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Legan, A.W., Mack, B.M., Mehl, H.L., Wissotski, M., Ching'anda, C., Maxwell, L.A., Callicott, K.A. 2023. Complete genome of the toxic mold Aspergillus pseudotamarii isolate NRRL 25517 reveals genomic instability of the aflatoxin biosynthesis cluster. G3, Genes/Genomes/Genetics. 13(9). Article jkad150. https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkad150.
Evaluation of Stagonospora nodorum blotch severity and Parastagonospora nodorum population structure and genetic diversity across multiple locations and wheat varieties in Virginia - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kaur, N., Mehl, H.L., Langston, D., Haak, D. 2024. Evaluation of Stagonospora nodorum blotch severity and Parastagonospora nodorum population structure and genetic diversity across multiple locations and wheat varieties in Virginia. Phytopathology. 114(1):258-268. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-10-22-0392-R.
Is Microdochium maydis associated with necrotic lesions in the tar spot disease complex? A culture-based survey of maize in Mexico and the midwestern United States - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Luis, J., Mehl, H.L., Plewa, D., Kleczewski, N.M. 2023. Is Microdochium maydis associated with necrotic lesions in the tar spot disease complex? A culture-based survey of maize in Mexico and the midwestern United States. Phytopathology. 113(10):1890-1897. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-04-23-0109-R.
Enzymatic degradation of aflatoxin accumulation in dry maize kernels as a promising post-harvest mitigation strategy - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Crop host influences on outcomes of competition between Aspergillus section Flavi species co-infecting maize and groundnuts - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ching'anda, C., Bandyopadhyay, R., Callicott, K.A., Orbach, M.J., Cotty, P.J., Mehl, H.L. 2023. Crop host influences on outcomes of competition between Aspergillus section Flavi species co-infecting maize and groundnuts. PhytoFrontiers. 3(2):369-381. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-07-22-0076-R.
Characterization of the Aspergillus flavus population from highly aflatoxin-contaminated corn in the United States - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Weaver, M.A., Callicott, K.A., Mehl, H.L., Opoku, J., Park, L.C., Fields, K., Mandel, J.R. 2022. Characterization of the Aspergillus flavus population from highly aflatoxin-contaminated corn in the United States. Toxins. 14(11). Article 755. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins14110755.
Planting date and cultivar selection to manage southern blight in potatoes in the mid-Atlantic United States - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Garcia-Gonzalez, J., Mehl, H.L., Langston, D.B., Rideout, S.L. 2022. Planting date and cultivar selection to manage southern blight in potatoes in the mid-Atlantic United States. Crop Protection. 162. Article 106077. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2022.106077.
Comparison of current peanut fungicides against Athelia rolfsii through a laboratory bioassay of detached plant tissues - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wei, X., Langston, D.B., Mehl, H.L. 2022. Comparison of current peanut fungicides against Athelia rolfsii through a laboratory bioassay of detached plant tissues. Plant Disease. 106(8):2046-2052. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-12-21-2789-RE.
Genetic diversity of Aspergillus flavus associated with chili in Nigeria and identification of haplotypes with potential in aflatoxin mitigation - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Singh, P., Mehl, H.L., Orbach, M.J., Callicott, K.A., Cotty, P.J. 2022. Genetic diversity of Aspergillus flavus associated with chili in Nigeria and identification of haplotypes with potential in aflatoxin mitigation. Plant Disease. 106(7):1818-1825. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-07-21-1464-RE.
Spatial and temporal population dynamics of Aspergillus flavus in commercial pistachio orchards in Arizona - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ching'Anda, C., Atehnkeng, J., Bandyopadhyay, R., Callicott, K.A., Orbach, M., Cotty, P.J., Mehl, H.L. 2022. Spatial and temporal population dynamics of Aspergillus flavus in commercial pistachio orchards in Arizona. Plant Health Progress. 23:272-280. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-10-21-0128-RS.
Meta-analysis of the field efficacy of seed- and soil-applied nematicides on Meloidogyne incognita and Rotylenchulus reniformis across the U.S. Cotton Belt - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Faske, T.R., Kandel, Y., Allen, T.W., Grabau, Z.J., Kemerait, R.C., Lawrence, G.W., Lawrence, K.S., Mehl, H.L., Overstreet, C., Thiessen, L.D., Wheeler, T. 2022. Meta-analysis of the field efficacy of seed- and soil-applied nematicides on Meloidogyne incognita and Rotylenchulus reniformis across the U.S. Cotton Belt. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-07-21-1529-RE.
Enzymatic degradation is an effective means to reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Schmidt, M., Mao, Y., Opoku, J., Mehl, H.L. 2021. Enzymatic degradation is an effective means to reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize. BioMed Central (BMC)Biotechnology. 21. Article 70. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12896-021-00730-6.
Distribution of G143A mutations conferring fungicide resistance in Virginia populations of Parastagonospora nodorum infecting wheat - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kaur, N., Mehl, H.L. 2022. Distribution of G143A mutations conferring fungicide resistance in Virginia populations of Parastagonospora nodorum infecting wheat. Plant Health Progress. 23(1):28-32. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-05-21-0082-RS.
Temperature influences on interactions among aflatoxigenic species of aspergillus section flavi during maize colonization - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ching'Anda, C., Atehnkeng, J., Bandyopadhyay, R., Callicott, K.A., Orbach, M.J., Cotty, P.J., Mehl, H.L. 2021. Temperature influences on interactions among aflatoxigenic species of aspergillus section flavi during maize colonization. Frontiers in Fungal Biology. 2. Article 720276. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffunb.2021.720276.
Identifying optimal wavelengths as disease signatures using hyperspectral sensor and machine learning - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wei, X., Aguilera, M., Langston, D.B., Mehl, H.L., Li, S. 2021. Identifying optimal wavelengths as disease signatures using hyperspectral sensor and machine learning. Remote Sensing. 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13142833.
Soybean yield loss estimates due to diseases in the United States and Ontario, Canada from 2015-2019 - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bradley, C.A., Hartman, G.L., Mehl, H.L. 2021. Soybean yield loss estimates due to diseases in the United States and Ontario, Canada from 2015-2019. Plant Health Progress. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-01-21-0013-RS.
New reference genomes and comparative genomics analyses in Aspergillus flavus - (Abstract Only)
Phenotypic differentiation of two morphologically similar aflatoxin producers from West Africa - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Singh, P., Callicott, K.A., Orbach, M., Cotty, P.J., Mehl, H.L. 2020. Phenotypic differentiation of two morphologically similar aflatoxin producers from West Africa. Toxins. 12(10). Article 656. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12100656.
Sequence of host contact influences the outcome of competition among Aspergillus flavus isolates during host tissue invasion - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mehl, H.L., Cotty, P.J. 2011. Sequence of host contact influences the outcome of competition among Aspergillus flavus isolates during host tissue invasion. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 77(5):1691-1697.
Variation in Competitive ability among Isolates of Aspergillus flavus from Different Vegetative Compatibility Groups during Maize Infection - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mehl, H.L., Cotty, P.J. 2010. Variation in Competitive ability among Isolates of Aspergillus flavus from Different Vegetative Compatibility Groups during Maize Infection. Phytopathology. 100:150-159.