MUTAGENIC AND MEMBRANAL EFFECT OF A PHYTOTOXIC MOLECULE ISOLATED FROMOLIVE LEAVES PARASITIZED BY THE FUNGUS CYCLOCONIUM-OLEAGINUM CAST

`A phytotoxic substance (C23H44O3) which is named 'Substance A', was p urified from olive leaves infected with Cycloconium oleaginum Cast. Th e mutagenic effect of this substance was detected using TA 100 and TA 102 strains of Salmonella in the Ames test using Bacillus subtilis str ains M45 rec(-), H17 rec(+) in the rec assay. Another substance manife sting the mutagenic effect was found in the extract from the Cycloconi um oleaginum culture. This substance was not detected in the extract f rom contaminated olive leaves. Substance A increased electrolytes leak age from tissue of olive leaves, thus manifesting its phytotoxicity.