Toxic metabolites from phytopathogenic Ascochyta species.

We review some chemical and biological aspects of toxic metabolites produced in vitro by phytopathogenic Ascochyta species, fungi having agrarian and toxicological importance. In particular, here the isolation of some known and new cytochalasins from A. heteromorpha and A. lathyri, four new nonenolides from A. pinodes and a new trisubstituted derivative of salycilic aldehyde from A. pisi are described. Furthermore, the identification of medicarpin, phytoalexin found in the chickpea seeds naturally infected by A. rabiei is also reported.