Analysis of Cytochalasins in Cultures of Ascochyta spp. and in Infected Plants by High Performance Liquid and Thin Layer Chromatography

High performance liquid chromatography and high performance thin layer chromatography were used in combination to check the occurrence of the bioactive cytochalasins A, B, C, D, E, H and J in cultures of some phytopathogenic species of Ascochyta, isolated from infected plants. Cytochalasins A and B were readily detected and estimated in the culture filtrates of Ascochyta heteromorpha Sch. and Sacc., the causal agent of foliar disease of oleander (Nerium oleander L.). The two compounds were also detected in oleander leaves naturally infected by A. heteromorpha suggesting that these compounds play a role in the disease of the ornamental plant. None of the above mentioned cytochalasins were detected in the culture filtrates of the other fungi tested.