Alternaria penicillata is a species of fungi in the family Pleosporaceae, which causes leaf blight of opium poppy.

The fungus is found in Europe, Australia, India, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, Turkey, USA and Zambia.

[8] In 2013, a new DNA study was carried out and reclassified former genera; Allewia, Brachycladium, Chalastospora, Chmelia, Crivellia, Embellisia, Lewia, Nimbya, Sinomyces, Teretispora, Ulocladium, Undifilum and Ybotromyces as synonymy with genus Alternaria.

[9] In 2000, the government of Colombia proposed dispersing strains of Crivellia and another fungus, Fusarium oxysporum, also known as Agent Green, as a biological weapon to forcibly eradicate coca and other illegal crops.

In February 2001, the EU Parliament also issued a declaration specifically against the use of these biological agents in warfare.