Alternaria
Alternaria sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Phylum:	Ascomycota
Subdivision:	Pezizomycotina
Class:	Dothideomycetes
Order:	Pleosporales
Family:	Pleosporaceae
Genus:	Alternaria
Species
Many, see text

Alternaria is a genus of ascomycete fungi. Alternaria species are known as major plant pathogens. They are also common allergens in humans, growing indoors and causing hay fever or hypersensitivity reactions that sometimes lead to asthma. They readily cause opportunistic infections in immunocompromised people such as AIDS patients.

There are 299 species in the genus;^[1] they are ubiquitous in the environment and are a natural part of fungal flora almost everywhere. They are normal agents of decay and decomposition. The spores are airborne and found in the soil and water, as well as indoors and on objects. The club-shaped spores are single or form long chains. They can grow thick colonies which are usually green, black, or gray.

At least 20% of agricultural spoilage is caused by Alternaria species. Many human health disorders can be caused by these fungi, which grow on skin and mucous membranes, including on the eyeballs and within the respiratory tract. Allergies are common, but serious infections are rare, except in people with compromised immune systems. However, species of this fungal genus are often prolific producers of a variety of toxic compounds. The effects most of these compounds have on animal and plant health are not well known. The terms alternariosis and alternariatoxicosis are used for disorders in humans and animals caused by a fungus in this genus.

Not all Alternaria species are pests and pathogens; some have shown promise as biocontrol agents against invasive plant species.

Species[link]

Species include:

• Alternaria alternata - Causes early blight of potato, Leaf spot disease in Withania somnifera^[2] and can infest many other plants. It also causes upper respiratory infections in AIDS patients, asthma in people with sensitivity, and has been implicated in chronic rhinosinusitis.
• Alternaria alternantherae
• Alternaria arborescens - causes stem canker of tomato
• Alternaria arbusti - causes leaf lesions on Asian pear
• Alternaria blumeae - causes lesions on Blumea aurita
• Alternaria brassicae - infests many vegetables and roses
• Alternaria brassicicola - grows on cole crops
• Alternaria burnsii - causing cumin bloosem blight
• Alternaria carotiincultae - causes leaf blight on carrot
• Alternaria carthami
• Alternaria celosiae
• Alternaria cinerariae
• Alternaria citri
• Alternaria conjuncta - grows on parsnip
• Alternaria dauci - grows on carrot
• Alternaria dianthi
• Alternaria dianthicola
• Alternaria euphorbiicola - infests cole crops
• Alternaria gaisen - causes ringspot disease of pear
• Alternaria helianthicola
• Alternaria hungarica
• Alternaria infectoria - infests wheat
• Alternaria japonica - infests cole crops
• Alternaria limicola - earliest diverging lineage of Section Porri
• Alternaria linicola
• Alternaria longipes - infects tobacco
• Alternaria molesta - may cause skin lesions on porpoises
• Alternaria panax - causes ginseng blight
• Alternaria perpunctulata
• Alternaria petroselini - causes parsley leaf blight
• Alternaria radicina - causes carrot decay
• Alternaria raphani
• Alternaria saponariae
• Alternaria selini - causes parsley crown decay
• Alternaria senecionis
• Alternaria solani - causes early blight in potatoes and tomatoes
• Alternaria smyrnii - infests alexanders and parsleys
• Alternaria tenuissima
• Alternaria triticina
• Alternaria zinniae

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

References[link]

3. Lawrence DP, Park MS, Pryor BM. 2012. Nimbya and Embellisia revisited, with nov. comb. for Alternaria celosiae and A. perpunctulata. Mycological Progress in press.

External links[link]

• Alternaria as an indoor fungal allergen
• Alternaria Online
• IPM for Alternaria leafspot
• Photo gallery
• Mycology Online page
• Fungal Hypersensitivity

This Pleosporales-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

This plant disease article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e