Alternaria alternata
Encyclopedia
Alternaria alternata has been recorded causing leaf spot
and other diseases on over 380 host species. It is opportunistic pathogen on numerous hosts causing leaf spots, rots and blights on many plant parts. It can also cause upper respiratory tract
infections and asthma
in people with sensitivity.
Conidia
Leaf spot
Leaf spots are round blemishes found on the leaves of many species of plants, mostly caused by parasitic fungi or bacteria.A typical spot is "zonal", meaning it has a definite edge and often has a darker border. When lots of spots are present, they can grow together and become a blight or a blotch...
and other diseases on over 380 host species. It is opportunistic pathogen on numerous hosts causing leaf spots, rots and blights on many plant parts. It can also cause upper respiratory tract
Upper respiratory tract
The upper respiratory tract or upper airway primarily refers to the parts of the respiratory system lying outside of the thorax or above the sternal angle. Another definition commomly used in medicine is the airway above the glottis or vocal cords...
infections and asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
in people with sensitivity.
Anamorph
Conidiophore- Pale brown to olive brown
- 25-60 x 3-3.5 µm
- Straight or flexuous
- Individual conidiophores arise directly from substrate forming bushy heads consisting of 4-8 large catenate conidia chains
- Secondary conidiophores are generally short and 1-celled
Conidia
- Pale brown to light brown
- Obclavate to obpyriform orellipsoid, short conical beak at the tip, or beakless
- Surface smooth to verruculose
- Size
- 20-63 x 9-18 µm in size
- (on PCA) mature conidia typically 10-30 x 5-12 µm
- Septa
- Several vertical and -8 transverse septa
- (on PCA) 3-7 transepta, 1-5 longisepta
- Chains
- Produced in an often branched, long chain more than 5 conidia.
- (on PCA) individual chains of 5-15 conidia, complex of branching chains may contain up to 50-60 conidia