Alternaria alternata
alternaria leaf spot
Alternaria tenuis, Alternaria tenuissima, many others
Worldwide
Widespread
2022-09-13 19:18:44
fungus
Korea
Wide host range
ALTEAL
Korea listed this pathogen as Alternaria spp. A. alternata, A. tenuis and A. tenuissima have all been reported in Korea. A. alternata has often been found on seed in laboratory testing. There is little evidence of seed transmission. This fungus is ubiquitous and often of minor importance in its hosts.
21 Known Hosts
Allium cepa
onion
No
ALTEAL-4
No references found indicating seed is a pathway. Onion has been reported a host of the pathogen. This fungus is ubiquitous and found on many plant species.
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Beta vulgaris
table beet, swiss chard
No
ALTEAL-4
Pathway not proven. Reference lists seed as a possible pathway for this pest. However, the reference seems to only mention that A. alternata was identified on seed in laboratory tests. No other data was provided.
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Brassicaceae family
cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, rapeseed, turnip, chinese cabbage, mustard, radish
No
ALTEAL-3,ALTEAL-7
Pathway not proven. Many species of Brassicaceae have been reported as hosts for A. alternata, though A. brassicaeae and A. brassicola are more common and economically important. There is no evidence of seed transmission and A. alternata is primarily considered opportunistic (ALTEAL-7).
Capsicum annuum
pepper
No
ALTEAL-3,ALTEAL-6,ALTEAL-5
Pathway not proven. Seed contamination has been reported but only on laboratory testing and no data was reported on possible effects of the fungus on seed or seedlings. A. alternata is considered a weak pathogen of pepper.
Seed treatments may be used as a prophylactic measure against the fungus.
ALTEAL-3
International Seed Federation Regulated Pest List Database. www.pestlist.worldseed.org. Nyon, switzerland
Kumari K, Jadeja GC. and Patel, ST. 2012. Seed borne mycoflora of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars collected from different locations of Gujarat. Journal of Plant Disease Sciences 7: 55-59.
Wall MM and Biles CL. 1993. Alternaria Fruit Rot of Ripening Chili Peppers. Phytopathology 83:324-328
Citrullus lanatus
watermelon
No
ALTEAL-3,ALTEAL-4
No references found indicating seed is a pathway. References above also indicate that seed is not a pathway.
Cucumis melo
melon
No
ALTEAL-3,ALTEAL-8,ALTEAL-9,ALTEAL-4
Pathway not proven. A specific f. sp. (A. alternata f.sp. cucurbitae) infects melon. Although references (ALTEAL-8 and ALTEAL-9) indicate seed may be come infected and be a source of inoculum, it appears most likely that the fungus is a surface contaminant of seed. Seed may be a source of long range inoculum but does not present data or cite a specific reference.
International Seed Federation Regulated Pest List Database. www.pestlist.worldseed.org. Nyon, switzerland
Cruz-Chouque, D., Blanco, R. and Tello, J.C. (1999). Spectrum of seed-associated fungi on Cucumis melo L. before its conservation into a germplasm bank. I International Symposium on Cucurbits. Acta Horticulturae ISHS, 492, 201-206
Vakalounakis DJ. 2017. Alternaria leaf spot. In, Compendium of Cucurbit Diseases and Pests, Second Ed. Keinath AP, Wintermantel WM and Zitter TA, eds. The American Pathological Society, St. Paul, MN, USA.
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Cucumis sativus
cucumber
No
ALTEAL-4,ALTEAL-9,ALTEAL-8
Pathway not proven. A specific f. sp. (A. alternata f.sp. cucurbitae) infects cucumber. Although seed has been reported as a possible source of long range inoculum (ALTEAL-9), no data was presented nor was a specific reference cited. Other references do not consider cucumber seed as a pathway.
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Vakalounakis DJ. 2017. Alternaria leaf spot. In, Compendium of Cucurbit Diseases and Pests, Second Ed. Keinath AP, Wintermantel WM and Zitter TA, eds. The American Pathological Society, St. Paul, MN, USA.
Cruz-Chouque, D., Blanco, R. and Tello, J.C. (1999). Spectrum of seed-associated fungi on Cucumis melo L. before its conservation into a germplasm bank. I International Symposium on Cucurbits. Acta Horticulturae ISHS, 492, 201-206
Daucus carota
carrot
No
ALTEAL-10,ALTEAL-11,ALTEAL-12
Pathway not proven. A. alternata is a weak pathogen of carrot and can be found on carrot seed. No references were found on seed transmission of the fungus. A. alternata can produce toxins that can have detrimental effects on germination in the laboratory, but no references were found indicating this happens in the field. A. dauci and A. radicini are more important seed borne pathogens of carrot.
Yes
Blotter incubation
ALTEAL-30
Seed treatments; Hot water treatments.
See A. dauci and A. radicini. Seed treatments and disinfectants used for these pathogens should also be effective for A. alternata.
Lima, Cristina Batista de, Rentschler, Luana Lopes Assumpção, Bueno, João Tavares, & Boaventura, Ana Cláudia. (2016). Plant extracts and essential oils on the control of Alternaria alternata , Alternaria dauci and on the germination and emergence of carrot seeds ( Daucus carota L.). Ciência Rural, 46: 764-770. https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20141660
Tylkowska, K.; Grabarkiewicz-Szczesna, J.; Iwanowska, H. 2003. Production of toxins by Alternaria alternata and A. radicina and their effects on germination of carrot seeds. Seed Science and Technology 31:309-316
Konstantinova P, Bonnants PJ, van Gent-Pelzer MP, van der Zouwen P and van den Bulk R. 2002. Development of specific primers for detection and identification of Alternaria spp. in carrot material by PCR and comparison with blotter and plating assays. Mycol. Res. 106: 23–33
United Stated Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Protection Service National Seed Health System (USDA-APHIS NSHS) www.seedhealth.org
Glycine max
soybean
No
ALTEAL-13,ALTEAL-14,ALTEAL-15
Pathway not proven. A. alternata is a weak pathogen of soybean and has been reported on seed. Seed quality and germination may be affected by seed contamination, however, no references were found indicating seed transmission. Seeds contaminated usually do not germinate and if they do germinate in soil, they do not emerge.
Yes
Blotter incubation, Culture plating
ALTEAL-15,ALTEAL-16
Fungicide seed treatments
Seed treatments have been described for other hosts. No information on soybean found. Pathogen management is rarely required. Seed contamination increases with delayed harvest, freezing and beetle injury.
ALTEAL-13,ALTEAL-1
Hartman GL, Sikora EJ and Rupe JC. 2015. Soybean rust. In: Compendium of Soybean Diseases and Pests, Fifth Edition G. L. Hartman, J. C. Rupe, E. J. Sikora, L. L. Domier, J. A. Davis and K. L. Steffey, Eds. The APS Press. St. Paul, MN.
Shortt BJ, Sinclair JB, Helm CG, Jeffords MR, and Kogan M. 1982. Soybean Seed Quality Losses Associated with Bean Leaf Beetles and Alternaria tenuissima. Phytopathology 72: 615-618
Kunwar IK, Manandhar JB, and Sinclair JB. 1986. Histopathology of Soybean Seeds Infected with Alternaria alternata. Phytopathology 76: 543-546.
Ska DS, Tylkowska K, Deng CHJ and Gao Y, 2012. Comparison of modified blotter and agar incubation methods for detecting fungi in Zinnia elegans seeds. Seed Science and Technology, 40:32-42.
Alternaria alternata. In: Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Gossypium spp.
cotton
No
ALTEAL-17,ALTEAL-18,ALTEAL-19
Pathway not proven. A. alternata is a weak pathogen of cotton and has been found on cotton seed, in laboratory surveys and seed quality may be affected by toxins produced. However, no references were found indicating seed transmission.
Yes
Culture plating
ALTEAL-18
Seed treatments affective against A. alternata have been described for other hosts.
ALTEAL-1
Bell AA and Medrano EG. 2004. Frequency and Pathogenicity of Microorganisms Associted with Cotton Seed Rot in South Carolina. 2004 Beltwide Cotton Conferences, San Antonio TX. https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/11975/PDF
Rathod SR and Chaven AM. 2010. Incidence of Alternaria Species on Different Cereals, Pulses and Oil Seeds. Journ. of Ecobiotech 2:63-65
Rathod, SR.2012. Seed Borne Alternaria species: A Review. Curretn Botany 3:21-23
Alternaria alternata. In: Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Helianthus annuus
sunflower
No
ALTEAL-20,ALTEAL-21,ALTEAL-22
Pathway not proven. A. alternata is a weak pathogen of sunflower and has been found on sunflower seed, in laboratory surveys and seed quality may be affected by toxins produced. However, no references were found indicating seed transmission. A. helianthi and A. helianticola are more serious pathogens of sunflower
Yes
Blotter incubation
ALTEAL-21,ALTEAL-22
Seed treatments affective against A. alternaria have been described for other hosts.
ALTEAL-1
Kgatle MG, Flett B, Truter M, Ramusi M and
Aveling T. 2019. Distribution of Alternaria leaf blight of sunflowers caused by
Alternaria alternata in South Africa
Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics 120:71-77
Abdullah SK and Al-Mosawi KA. 2010. Fungi Associated with Seeds of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Cultivars Grown in Iraq.Phytopathologia 57: 11–20
Sharfun-Nahar, Mushtaq M, and Hashmi MH. 2005. Seed-borne Mycoflora of Sunflower. (Helianthus annuus L.) Pak. J. Bot., 37(2): 451-457
Alternaria alternata. In: Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Hordeum vulgare
barley
No
ALTEAL-24,ALTEAL-25
Pathway not proven. A. alternata is a weak pathogen of barley and has been found on barley grains, in laboratory surveys and grain quality may be affected by toxins produced. However, no references were found indicating seed transmission.
Yes
Culture plating, Blotter and Freezing blotter incubation
ALTEAL-24,ALTEAL-25
Seed treatments affective against A. alternaria have been described for other hosts.
ALTEAL-1
Rabie CJ, Liibben A, Marais GJ, Jansen van Vuuren, H.1997. Enumeration of fungi in barley. International Journal of Food Microbiology 35:Il7- 127
Fakheunnisa, Hashmi MH and Ghaffer A., 2006 Seed-borne Mycoflora of Wheat, Sorghum and Barley. Pak. J. Bot., 38: 185-192.
Alternaria alternata. In: Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Lactuca sativa
lettuce
No
ALTEAL-4,ALTEAL-26,ALTEAL-26,ALTEAL-27,ALTEAL-29
Pathway not proven. A. alternata has been reported on lettuce but usually not considered a pathogen of lettuce. A. alternata has been found on seed, in laboratory surveys but, no references were found indicating seed transmission. A. alternata is not described as a pathogen in the latest version of the Compendium of Lettuce Diseases and Pests (ALTEAL-27)
Yes
Blotter incubation
ALTEAL-26
Seed treatments affective against A. alternata have been described for other hosts.
ALTEAL-1
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Muniz, PH, Marques, MG, Peixoto, GHS, Simão, KG and Carvalho, DDC. 2018. Morphological characterization of Alternaria alternata associated on iceberg lettuce seeds cv. 'Astra'. Revista de Agricultura Neotropical 5:82-86
Subbarao KV, Davis RM, GilbertsonRL, and Raid RN. 2017. PART I: Infectious Diseases. Compendium of Lettuce Diseases and Pests, Second Edition. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, USA
Chen W and Hoáubowicz R. 2010. Effect of Treating Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Seeds with Solutions of Ethereal Oils From Camphor Tree (Cinnamomum camphora L.) and Patchouli Plant (Pogostemon cablin Benth.) on Their Germination. Acta Sci. Pol., Hortorum Cultus 9: 69-83
Alternaria alternata. In: Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Medicago sativa
alfalfa
No
ALTEAL-4,ALTEAL-31
A. alternata has been reported on alfalfa but it is considered a saprophyte of alfalfa. A. alternata has been found on seed, in laboratory surveys but, no references were found indicating seed transmission.
Blotter incubation
ALTEAL-31
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Al-Askar, AA.A., Ghoneem, K.M. & Rashad, Y.M. 2012. Seed-borne mycoflora of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in the Riyadh Region of Saudi Arabia. Ann Microbiol 62, 273–281.
Phaseolus vulgaris
common bean
No
ALTEAL-3,ALTEAL-23
Pathway not proven. A. alternata is a weak pathogen of bean and has been found on bean seed in laboratory surveys and seed quality may be affected by toxins produced. There is no correlation between seed contamination and transmission in the greenhouse. No references were found indicating seed transmission in the field.
No
Seed treatments affective against A. alternata have been described for other hosts.
ALTEAL-1
International Seed Federation Regulated Pest List Database. www.pestlist.worldseed.org. Nyon, switzerland
Moraes, M.H.D. and Menten, J.O.M. (2006). Transmission of Alternaria spp. by common bean seeds and its effects on physiological quality. Summa Phytopathologica 32(4):381-383
Alternaria alternata. In: Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Pisum sativum
pea
No
ALTEAL-4,ALTEAL-32
A. alternata has been reported on pea but it is considered a saprophyte of pea plants and seed.. A. alternata has been found on seed, in laboratory surveys but, no references were found indicating seed transmission.
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Banniza, S. 2021. Alternaria Blight. In, PART I: Infectious Diseases, Compendium of Pea Diseases and Pests, Third Edition. Eds. R. M. Harveson, J. S. Pasche, L. Porter, W. Chen, and M. Burrows. pgs. 6-69
Solanum lycopersicum
tomato
No
ALTEAL-36,ALTEAL-37,ALTEAL-38,ALTEAL-4
Pathway not proven. A. alternata f.sp. lycopercisi is a pathogen that produces toxins that causes stem canker. It is an important pathogen of tomato in wet climates or under sprinkler irrigation. It is a ubiquitous organism and commonly soil borne or in crop debris. Seed contamination has been reported but only on laboratory testing or with artificially inoculated seed. No literature indicating seed transmission of the fungus in nature was found, though in laboratory tests, germination was reduced,
Yes
Blotter incubation
ALTEAL-36
Seed treatments affective against A. alternata have been described for other hosts.
ALTEAL-1
Sandulescu,EB, et. al. 2020. Influence of hydrolyzed collagen and thyme oil on tomato seed germination and their use in controlling Alternaria alternata f.sp. lycopersici. Rom Biotechnol Lett.; 25: 1223-1235.
Franceschini, A. et.al. 1980. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) wilt caused by Alternaria alternata f.sp. lycopersici Grogan, Kimble & Misaghi. Studi Sassaresi, III 28: 257-269
Koike ST, et. al. Alternaria Stem Canker. 2014. Compendium of Tomato Diseases and Pests, Second Edition. Eds. Jeffrey B. Jones, Thomas A. Zitter, Timur M. Momol and Sally A. Miller. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, USA
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Alternaria alternata. In: Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Sorghum bicolor
sorghum
No
ALTEAL-4,ALTEAL-25
A. alternata is an ubiquitous sporophyte and a weak pathogen of sorghum and has been found on sorghum grains, in laboratory surveys and it may affect grain quality. However, seed transmission is not known to occur.
Yes
Blotter incubation, Freezing blotter incubation
ALTEAL-25
Seed treatments affective against A. alternaria have been described for other hosts.
ALTEAL-1
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Fakheunnisa, Hashmi MH and Ghaffer A., 2006 Seed-borne Mycoflora of Wheat, Sorghum and Barley. Pak. J. Bot., 38: 185-192.
Alternaria alternata. In: Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Spinacia oleracea
spinach
No
ALTEAL-34,ALTEAL-35,ALTEAL-4
Pathway not proven. Spinach can be a host and this pathogen can be found on seed in laboratory tests. Primarily found on seed that has not been conditioned or cleaned for commercial sales (i.e. farmer saved or local sources). No evidence of seed transmission, though seed quality may be affected.
Agar plating
ALTEAL-35
Anwar, W., et. al. 2010. Quality deterioration from fungi associated with spinach (Spinacia oleracea) seeds, collected from vegetable market of Lahore. Pakistan Journal of Seed Technology 2:58-62
Suprava, S. 2017. Seed Mycoflora, Pathogenicity and Control of Pathogens of Spinach. TUCL Digital Repository. http://107.170.122.150:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/823
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Triticum aestivum
wheat
No
ALTEAL-4,ALTEAL-25
A. alternata is an ubiquitous sporophyte and a weak pathogen of wheat and has been found on wheat grains, in laboratory surveys and it may affect grain quality. However, seed transmission is not known to occur.
Yes
Blotter incubation, Freezing blotter incubation
ALTEAL-25
Seed treatments affective against A. alternaria have been described for other hosts.
ALTEAL-1
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Fakheunnisa, Hashmi MH and Ghaffer A., 2006 Seed-borne Mycoflora of Wheat, Sorghum and Barley. Pak. J. Bot., 38: 185-192.
Alternaria alternata. In: Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Zea mays
corn
No
ALTEAL-4,ALTEAL-28
Pathway not proven. A. alternata has been found on seed of corn in laboratory surveys but, no references were found indicating seed transmission.
Yes
Seed wash and visual examination
ALTEAL-28
Biological inoculants have been researched
ALTEAL-28
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