Alternaria. An Idenification Manual. Fully illustr. and with Catalogue Raisonné 1796 - 2007. (CBS Biodiversity Series,6). 288 line - figs. IV, 774 p. 4to. Hardcover.

This book will fill a very large void in the scientific literature and it is quite certain that the volume will become the standard reference for those needing to have critical access to Alternaria literature and taxonomic information. There are many scientists, both research and regulatory, who are in desperate need of resources like this book to facilitate routine identification.The volume begins with discussions of Alternaria classification and ofthe author's own viewpoint for the manual. Alternaria is then discussedas a genus in the context of Hyphomycetes in general and isdifferentiated from somewhat similar genera Stemphylium, Embellisia,and Nimbya. The basic protocols used in handling and charcterisingisolates discussed in the manual then are detailed. Dichotomous keysfor each accepted species, standardised descriptions (colonydevelopment and appearance, sporulation features visible at 50Xmagnification, details of sporulation, conidiophore, conidium, andaccessory hypha morphology at higher magnifications, and comparisonswith similar taxa). Microscopic details of conidia are illustrated foreach sepcies. Finally a comprehensive list of all the nearly 1200 namesinvolved historically with Alternaria taxonomy in the period 1796-2007.