Dr. Hillary Mehl
Dr. Hillary Mehl is a Research Plant Pathologist with US Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center. Dr. Mehl focuses on basic and applied research aimed at elucidating biotic and abiotic factors that impact both crop aflatoxin contamination risk and the efficacy of aflatoxin biocontrol.
Dr. Ken Callicott
Dr. Kenneth Callicott is a Research Molecular Biologist with US Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center. Dr. Callicott focuses on the biology and ecology of fungal plant pathogen Aspergillus flavus and its close relatives to select better isolates that are most effective for biocontrol.
The ACRPC supports the Arizona Meteorological Network (AZMET). For the past 37 years, AZMET has provided weather information to Arizona cotton growers. AZMET provides weather information to cotton growers in real time, as well as weekly cotton advisories, heat stress updates, seasonal assessments, and more.
ACRPC partners with and provides support to the University of Arizona Extension research. We survey and inform University Extension Scientists of suspect fields for Fusarium wilt of cotton. Fusarium Race 4 is a disease-causing fungal strain that has not yet been detected in Arizona. ACRPC personnel survey cotton fields for pesticide-resistant weeds, specifically Glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth. Areas with suspected weed resistance are reported to the Extension experts for further investigation and sampling.
ACRPC supports Dr. Bruce Tabashnik and his research team as they continue their studies on the evolution and management of insect resistance to crops genetically engineered for pest control. Studies of particular interest to Arizona cotton growers include pink bollworm resistance to the insecticidal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) transgenic cotton.