The role of macrosporin in necrotic spots

Macrosporin, a bioactive metabolite produced by a plant-pathogenic fungus Stemphylium lycopersici, was found to be a non-host selective toxin which plays a part in leaf necrosis, a disease caused by this fungus. Here, we discuss the role of this metabolite in necrotic spots, through the direct inoculation of the midribs of the leaves of a natural host, as well as its ability to generate active oxygen species, through the process of photosensitizing oxygen. (C) 2011 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.