Alternaria, n.
(æltəˈnɛərɪə)
[mod.L. (coined in Ger. in C. G. Nees von Esenbeck Das System der Pilze u. Schwämme (1816) 72), f. L. altern-us: see altern a., -ary.]
A genus of hyphomycetous fungi which cause various plant diseases; (also alternaria) a fungus of this genus. Freq. used attrib. to designate a disease caused by such a fungus.
| 1899 G. Massee Text-bk. Plant Dis. 110 The dead heart-leaves are often more or less covered with greenish-brown velvety patches consisting of Alternaria..spores. 1914 Jrnl. Agric. Res. I. 475 Helminthosporiums, Alternarias, Cladosporiums, and Fusariums were obtained. 1924 Ibid. XXIX. 421 Alternaria leafspot has a very wide distribution, both here and abroad. 1953 F. T. Brooks Plant Dis. (ed. 2) xx. 389 Alternaria citri..Alternaria rot of citrus. 1986 Power Farming Oct. 22/3 An early dose of fungicide is applied to the rape if alternaria is considered a threat. 1988 Farmer's Weekly (S. Afr.) 24 June 43/1 Purple or Alternaria blotch is well known in South Africa. |