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Alternaria species are common saprophytes or pathogens of a wide range of plants pre- and post-harvest. This review considers the relative importance of Alternaria species, their ecology, competitiveness, production of mycotoxins and the prevalence of the predominant mycotoxins in different food products. The available toxicity data on these toxins and the potential future impacts of Alternaria species and their toxicity in food products pre- and post-harvest are discussed. The growth of Alternaria species is influenced by interacting abiotic factors, especially water activity (aw), temperature and pH. The boundary conditions which allow growth and toxin production have been identified in relation to different matrices including cereal grain, sorghum, cottonseed, tomato, and soya beans. The competitiveness of Alternaria species is related to their water stress tolerance, hydrolytic enzyme production and ability to produce mycotoxins. The relationship between A. tenuissima and other phyllosphere fungi has been examined and the relative competitiveness determined using both an Index of Dominance (ID) and the Niche Overlap Index (NOI) based on carbon-utilisation patterns. The toxicology of some of the Alternaria mycotoxins have been studied; however, some data are still lacking. The isolation of Alternaria toxins in different food products including processed products is reviewed. The future implications of Alternaria colonization/infection and the role of their mycotoxins in food production chains pre- and post-harvest are discussed.

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The occurrence ofAlternaria mycotoxins was investigated in 80 samples of tomato puree processed and sold in Argentina. Alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) and tenuazonic acid (TA) were searched for by liquid chromatography. Thirty-nine of the 80 samples showed mycotoxin contamination. TA was found in 23 samples (39-4021 μg/kg), AOH in 5 samples (187-8756 μg/kg), and AME in 21 samples (84-1734 μg/kg). Co-occurrence of two of these toxins was detected in 10 samples. This is the first report of natural occurrence of AOH, AME and TA in tomato products in Argentina.

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