Alternaria

Abstract

Alternaria is a common fungal genus that causes pre- and postharvest damage to agricultural products, including cereal grains, fruits, and vegetables. In addition to spoiling a wide variety of foods, several Alternaria species are able to produce secondary metabolites considered as both phytotoxins, which play an important role in the pathogenesis of plants, and mycotoxins, which can be harmful to humans and animals. This chapter presents an overview of the genus Alternaria covering the current status of taxonomy, secondary metabolite production, ecophysiology, association with plant diseases, and natural occurrence of Alternaria mycotoxins in foods.