Morphology and Molecular Characterization of a Fungus from the <i>Alternaria alternata</i> Species Complex Causing Black Spots on <i>Pyrus sinkiangensis</i> (Koerle pear)

Abstract

A small-spored <i>Alternaria</i> was found from black spots of storaged Koerle pear (<i>Pyrus sinkiangensis</i>), one of the economically important fruit in Xinjiang province, China. The morphology is similar to <i>A. limoniasperae</i> but obviously different in secondary conidiophores and conidial septa. A phylogenetic analysis using sequence datasets of ITS, GAPDH, TEF1, RPB2, Alt a1, OPA10-2, and EndoPG genes revealed that it belonged to the <i>Alternaria alternata</i> complex group. Pathogenicity tests illustrated that the fungus was the causal pathogen of black spot on Koerle pear fruit.