New members of Alternaria (Pleosporales, Pleosporaceae) collected from Apiaceae in Algeria

<i>Alternaria</i> species have often been reported as plant pathogens and are commonly isolated from diseased plant hosts. During an investigation of this genus in Algeria, seven <i>Embellisia</i>-like isolates were collected from Apiaceae. Phylogenetic analysis using sequences at four loci, the internal transcribed spacer of the rDNA region (ITS), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (<i>gpd</i>), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), and RNA polymerase second largest subunit (rpb2), revealed that these isolates grouped into three sections, namely <i>Embellisia</i>, <i>Embellisioides</i>, and <i>Eureka</i>. Four isolates had significant differences with their closest species and were determined to be new species, namely <i>Alternarialongiformis</i> and <i>A.radicicola</i> <b>spp. nov.</b> The three other isolates of section Eureka were identified as <i>A.eureka</i> and <i>A.hungarica</i>, the latter species being described as a new record in Algeria. Detailed descriptions of new species are provided based on colony color, aspect, diameter, conidial size, septa, sporulation patterns and compared with other relevant <i>Alternaria</i> species within same sections. All these species were weakly pathogenic on carrot, coriander, and fennel under greenhouse experiments. Apiaceae may constitute a reservoir of <i>Alternaria</i> species that could represent potential pathogens for other plant families.