Project Number: 6435-42000-022-14
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 01, 2012
End Date: Jul 31, 2017

Objective:
In order to support efforts to improve aflatoxin management methodologies, assess the extent to which agronomic practices, including winter cropping, differentially affect long-term influences of atoxigenic strain treatments. Evaluate inexpensive substrates and formulation for atoxigenic product development. Identify agronomic, environmental, and ecological factors (i.e. hosts, etc.) that favor development of highly toxic fungal community structures and practices that favor selection and retention of atoxigenics.

Approach:
In collaboration with USDA-ARS and commercial farmers, The University of Arizona will perform field and laboratory studies to assess influences of real world agronomic practices on the aflatoxin producing potential of fungal communities and on the long-term effectiveness of biological control agents directed at limiting aflatoxin contamination. Advanced statistical methods such as geostatistics and multiple regression analysis will be applied to population data to identify influences of potential interests. The opinion of farmers and agricultural groups will be sought to identify potential practices that may be modified to improve aflatoxin management.