Postharvest fruit rot of Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.): Pathogenicity and Host range of Alternaria alternata

•A quiescent pathogen, A. alternata, caused postharvest fruit rot of bell pepper.•A. alternata displayed a long incubation time of 10 days for pathogenesis.•Genetic loci, ITS, Alt a1, and RPB2 were sequenced to identify A. alternata.•A. alternata caused fruit rot in other vegetables like tomatoes and eggplant.•A. alternata showed growth and sporulation at a range of temperatures (10–30 °C).