گونه ‏های Alternaria همراه با لکه‏ برگی گیاهان دارویی در استان فارس

Due to diverse ecosystems and climatic conditions, Fars Province, Iran harbors a variety of medicinal plants. This study aims to identify the Alternaria species associated with these plants. Samples were collected from naturally occurring as well as plantations of infected medicinal plants with the obvious Alternaria leaf spot symptoms. Pure cultures were transferred into plates containing potato-carrot-agar and incubated at 23-25 ºC and 6/18 h light/dark photoperiod for 5-7 days for morphological studies. Various Alternaria species were isolated from chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), saffron (Crocus sativus), lemon beebrush (Aloysia citrodora), broadleaf plantain (Plantago major), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), hollyhocks (Alcea rosea), chicory (Cichorium intybus) and mallow (Malva neglecta). Alternaria alternata was isolated from lemon beebrush, chamomile, hollyhocks, chicory, broadleaf plantain and mallow for the first time in Iran. Both A. alternata and A. carthami were isolated from safflower leaves, and A. alternate was isolated from saffron corms and leaves for the first time in Fars Province. A alternata, ‏A. arborescense and A. tenuissima were predominant species among the identified isolates. Both A. arborescense and A. tenuissima were isolated from lemon beebrush and broadleaf plantain for the first time in the world.