Alternaria muriformis sp. nov., a New Species in Section Chalastospora Isolated from Herbivore Dung in Spain

In a survey of the mycobiota from the dung of herbivorous animals collected in natural areas in Spain, an Alternaria isolate was found. Morphological data and a multi-locus phylogenetic approach carried out through Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses with three gene markers (i.e., the internal transcribed spacer of rDNA, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and plasma membrane ATPase) revealed that it represents a novel Alternaria species in Chalastospora. Alternaria muriformis sp. nov. is described and illustrated here. It is closely related to Alternaria abundans, Alternaria armoraciae, and Alternaria breviramosa, but can be easily differentiated by its production of muriform conidia. Key morphological features of the members of the Chalastospora section are provided.