A genus of fungi that causes leaf spots and blight on many plants and crops, often appearing as dark lesions on affected tissues.
From Latin 'alternare' (to alternate) combined with the suffix '-aria,' referring to the fungus's spore-bearing structures that alternate in appearance. The name was coined by mycologists in the 19th century to describe the alternating pattern of fungal growth.
Alternaria is one of the most common plant pathogens on Earth, affecting everything from potatoes to tomatoes to wheat—it's estimated to cause billions of dollars in crop losses annually, yet most people have never heard of it! The fungus is so widespread that traces of it can be found in almost every outdoor air sample.
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