borne from primary conidiophores of varying
length. The observation of secondary conidiophores was uncommon,
but when present, they originated from the conidial body. On
DRYES, these strains exhibited light green to greyish colonies. Another
four isolates (6%) exhibited a sporulation pattern similar to that of A.
arborescens sp.-grp. (group “L”). The main characteristics were long primary
conidiophores with a terminal cluster of branching conidial
chains. Secondary conidiophores originating mainly from the conidial
apex and less frequently from conidial body were regularly observed.
Colonies on DRYES were dark green and sulcate. Four more isolates
(6%) presented short primary conidiophores with multi-branched
chains of 4–10 conidia, frequently with lateral secondary conidiophores
and were identified as A. alternata sp.-grp. (group “J”). Colonies on
DRYES were sulcate and dark green. One isolate (2%) exhibited characteristics
similar to A. armoraciae sp.-grp. (group “M”), showing long primary
conidiophores with several and short lateral branches of conidia.
The six remaining isolates (9%) exhibited intermediate characteristics
among groups H, J and L and were referred to as Alternaria sp.