A review of fungal phytotoxins: from basic studies to practical use

Recent materials are summarized, pertaining to classification of fungal phytotoxins, methods of their isolation, and assays for biological activity. Producers of phytotoxic substances have been characterized, and the chemical nature of phytotoxins has been subjected to analysis. The review gives consideration to the mechanisms of action of phytotoxins on susceptible plants and the mechanisms of plant resistance to such agents. Other matters discussed include prospects of utilizing basic knowledge of the nature and mechanisms of action of phytotoxins for (1) developing means of plant protection against diseases and weeds and (2) identifying or classifying fungi (chemosystematics).