Alternaria dianthi, sometimes known as carnation blight, is a fungal pathogen of the genus Dianthus. Alternaria dianthi infections begin as small circular or ovular spots on leaves and stems, which can be red, purple, brown, yellow or gray.
Symptoms
Alternaria dianthi can infect healthy plants, and favors humid, warm environments. ==Life cycle==
Life cycle
Alternaria dianthi reproduces asexually, forming row-like spores off of hyphae. Spores are formed on blisters on the host as well as within the mycelium. The thin, globular spores are spread through water. The spores of A. dianthi germinate optimally around 24 °C (75 °F), and cannot germinate below 4 °C (40 °F) or above 32 °C (90 °F). No observations of pathogens of Alternaria dianthi have been published. ==Impact==
Impact
Alternaria dianthi was first recorded in the scientific literature by F.L. Stevens and J.G. Hall in 1909, from florists in the United States. The fungus, along with other members of the genus Alternaria, is effectively controlled by the commercial fungicide mancozeb, as well as dithiocarbamates, chlorothalonil, and iprodione. Although A. dianthi has been found in wild and commercial varieties of Dianthus plants worldwide, no studies of the economic impacts or losses due to the disease have been published. ==References==