Photodynamic activity of cercosporin on plant tissues
Abstract Cercosporin, excited by incandescent light in the presence of oxygen, induced a loss of ions from the plant tissues tested. Silymarin, BHA (2(3)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole) and EDTA were effective in lowering the activity of cercosporin. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the toxic effect may be mediated by the singlet oxygen and free radical formation which induces a lipoperoxidative degradation of the polyunsaturated fatty acids of cell membranes.