In 1979 and 1980, isolates of Alternaria were obtained from diseased leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) plants. The pathogenicity of an Alternaria sp. towards leafy spurge was demonstrated in glasshouse and limited field studies, and the Alternaria is considered to be a potential biological - control agent for leafy spurge. The pathogenicity and cultural characteristics of the fungus suggest its classification as A. tenuissima f. sp. euphorbiae, with isolate Krupinsky 80-3547ss4 (= E. G. Simmons 35-079) as a representative strain.