Alternaria malorum: A mini-review with new records for hosts and pathogenicity

Abstract

Modern host-fungus indices and databases contain deceptively few entries for Alternaria malorum or its synonym, Cladosporium malorum. Close inspection of literature from the 1930s through the 1960s indicates more hosts and wider prevalence than more modern indices and databases indicate. Reports from 2002 to the present document diverse additional hosts in the Pacific Northwest, including this report from roots of Pinus ponderosa and Pseudotsuga menziesii, the first reports from gymnosperms. Cherry tomato and grape tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) were found to be hosts for A. malorum by artificial inoculation. Rarely documented in synoptic indices or databases in the last 20 years, the Cladosporium-like C. malorum is neither rare nor a true Cladosporium.