Alternaria: Biology, Plant Diseases and Metabolites (Topics in Secondary Metabolism)

Fungi of the genus Alternaria possess very intriguing characteristics. They are some of the most cosmopolitan in terms of both their biological environments, and as agricultural commodities. Some pathotypes of Alternaria produce host specific toxins, while numerous metabolites have been found to be toxic to humans and animals and as such are important food and feed contaminants of a significance not yet properly elucidated. This volume has been divided into two parts. In Part I, questions are presented regarding Alternaria ecology, nomenclature, identification, most important plant diseases and methods of their control. Important physico-chemical and biological properties, toxicology and biosynthesis of Alternaria metabolites are described in Part II.

There are over 400 Alternaria taxons in the literature and there remains a need to develop a more unified system of nomenclature within the genus. Alternaria infect numerous plant species and nearly all plant species of importance are recorded here. Examples of the most economically important diseases of such plants as cotton, vegetables, potatoes, tomatoes, carrot and linseed are reviewed in detail. Epidemiology questions are described and most advanced research on the significance of host-specific Alternaria toxins in plant diseases is reviewed. Part II elucidates the important characteristics of Alternaria metabolites; their structures, spectra, producers, and biological properties. Over 70 Alternaria metabolites of diverse structure and biological activity are known. Most of them are produced only by the Alternaria species. This book is suitable for specialists as well as students of plant pathology, mycology and toxicology working in the fields of plant disease and toxic fungal metabolites.