My research mainly deals with the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and the effects of inhibitors and mutations on techniques, my colleagues and I characterized the melanin pathway enzymic steps that convert various precursors to brown or black cell walls, are made from 1, 8-dihydroxynaphthalene subunits and differ from plant and animal melanins. More recently we used metabolic inhibitors and mutants to study the green cell wall melanins in a number of Aspergillus and Penicillium species. We found that these green melanin pigments are produced by the same biosynthetic pathway as the brown to black melanin pigments.

Our research with fungal melanins helped prove they are virulence factors in certain plant and human pathogenic fungi. Presently, I continue to collaborate with various scientists who share my interest in the function and biosynthesis of fungal malanins.

I am carrying out studies with colleagues to determine mechanisms by which fungi infect cottonseed and decrease metabolites from fungi that infect cottonseed and decrease cottonseed planting quality. We have isolated a number of toxic metabolites from fungi that infect cottonseed, and these compounds have been implicated as agents involved in seed deterioration. Presently, we are studying the importance of these compounds as phytotoxins and are interested in their mode of action.

We also are studying the fungal pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vas infectum, that causes Fusarium wilt of cotton. We have isolated a number of fungal metabolites that are produced by this fungus that may be involved as toxins in the disease. At the present time we are identifying theses compounds and determining their biochemical origin. Our eventual goal is to use molecular techniques to control synthesis of these metabolites and to study their possible role as factors in causing the disease.