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Home Page: http://www.pw.usda.gov/

Mission:
The mission of Plant Mycotoxin Research is to reduce or eliminate mycotoxincontamination of agricultural commodities. Emphasis is placed on aflatoxincontamination of tree nuts (almonds, pistachios and walnuts) and figs. Methods developed improve food quality, safety and exportability and are ecologically benign and conducive to technology transfer. Control strategies use natural plant, microbe or insect produced compounds that inhibit fungal growth or mycotoxin production or disrupt insect mating and feeding activities (feeding damage by insects can lead to fungal infection)Microbial biological control agents antagonistic to mycotoxigenic fungi that can be safely disseminated in agricultural environments are developed. The Unit designs automated methods for rapid removal of mycotoxin contaminated food products from processing-streams. A multi-disciplinary approach is used to achieve research objectives. Unit scientific expertise includes chemistry, agricultural engineering, physics, plant pathology, plant physiology, microbiology, entomology, biochemistry and botany. Collaborations exist with other scientists at WRRC, other ARS locations andnumerous industry, university, county and state action agencies.