Research Project: Improvement of the Aflatoxin Biocontrol Technology Based on Aspergillus flavus Population Biology, Genetics, and Crop Management Practices

Location: Pest Management and Biocontrol Research

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Structure of Aspergillus flavus populations associated with maize in Greece, Spain, and Serbia; implications for aflatoxin biocontrol on 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 regional scale. Environmental Microbiology Reports. 16. Article E13249. https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-2229.13249.

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 150. https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkad150.

Population structure and genetic diversity in Virginia populations of Parastagonospora nodorum infecting wheat - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kaur, N., Mehl, H.L., Langston, D., Haak, D. 2024. Population structure and genetic diversity in Virginia populations of Parastagonospora nodorum infecting wheat. Phytopathology. 114:258-268. 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 Midwest 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 Midwest United States. Phytopathology. 113:1890-1897. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-04-23-0109-R.

Two antennae-enriched carboxylesterases mediate olfactory responses and degradation of ester volatiles in the German cockroach Blattella germanica - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ma, Y., Gong, L., Zhang, M., Liu, X., Guo, H., Hull, J.J., Long, G., Wang, H., Dewer, Y., Zhang, F., He, M., He, P. 2023. Two antennae-enriched carboxylesterases mediate olfactory responses and degradation of ester volatiles in the German cockroach Blattella germanica. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 71(12):4789-4801. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.2c08488.

Aflatoxin contamination of maize and groundnut in Burundi: Distribution of contamination, indentification of casual agents and potential biocontrol genotypes of Aspergillus flavus - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Nsabiyumva, G., Mutegi, C.K., Wagacha, J.M., Bakari, A., Njeru, N., Ndayihanzamaso, P., Niyuhire, M.C., Atehnkeng, J., Njukwe, E., Callicott, K.A., Cotty, P.J., Ortega-Beltran, A., Bandyopadhyay, R. 2023. Aflatoxin contamination of maize and groundnut in Burundi: Distribution of contamination, indentification of casual agents and potential biocontrol genotypes of Aspergillus flavus. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2023. Article 1106543. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1106543.

Crop host influences on outcomes of competition between Aspergillus section Flavi species co-infecting maize and groundnuts - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ching'Anda, C., Bandyopadyay, 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. 3:369-381. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-07-22-0076-R.

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.

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.