phytotoxin
(faɪtəʊˈtɒksɪn)
[f. phyto- + toxin.]
1. Any toxin derived from a plant.
| 1909 R. J. M. Buchanan Blood in Health & Dis. xii. 289 Of chemical agents causing hæmorrhage, bacterial products take a prominent place, but many poisons, phytotoxins (plant poisons), zootoxins (animal poisons)..are especially effective. 1924 Chem. Abstr. XVIII. 1857 (heading) The protein phytotoxins, with special reference to the new ‘modeccin’. 1974 Nature 18 Oct. 628/1 Very low concentrations of phytotoxins can kill mammalian cells, and some of them..have been reported to suppress protein synthesis in cells and cell-free systems. |
2. A substance poisonous or injurious to plants, esp. one produced by a parasite.
| 1962 Phytopathology LII. 586/1 (heading) Production of a phytotoxin by Rhizoctonia solani. 1963 Ann. Rev. Microbiol. XVII. 224 The term ‘phytotoxin’ will be used for all products of living organisms toxic to plants. The designation, phytotoxin, does not imply that such a material plays any role whatever in relation to any disease caused by a pathogen. 1970 Strobel & Mathre Outl. Plant Path. xxii. 318 Phytotoxins induce few or none of the symptoms usually caused by the pathogen from which they originate. Compounds such as lycomarasmin, altemaric acid, and numerous smaller molecular weight organic acids fall into this category. |