A Re-examination of the Taxonomic Status of Embellisia astragali

The plant pathogen Embellisia astragali causes a disease termed yellow stunt and root rot in standing milk-vetch (Astragalus adsurgens). The genus Embellisia and 12 allied genera were redefined as being synonymous with Alternaria in 2013. However, that taxonomic revision did not include E. astragali. The objective of this study was to determine the taxonomic status of this fungal species by comparing its morphological and molecular characteristics with those of other species. A phylogenetic tree developed based on the sequences of 3 loci (GPD, RPB2, and TEF-1) strongly supported the placement of E. astragali in Alternaria sect. Undifilum. The fungus also exhibited germ tubes and mycelia with a 'wavy' appearance on potato carrot agar, which is a characteristic of sect. Undifilum. Embellisia astragali was described here as Alternaria gansuense comb. nov. because the species epithet astragali was already occupied.