A severe foliar blight of oleander (Nerium oleander L.) caused by Ascochyta heteromorpha (Sch. et Sacc.) Curzi, characterized by extensive brown-leaf zonations, was observed in a nursery near Bari during April of 1985. Investigation on the toxic metabolites responsible for the foliar symptoms led to the purification in large amount of cytochalasins B and a smaller amount of A, both known for their biological activity. It is reported that Helminthosporium dematioideum and Phoma spp. produce cytochalasins A and B, and Hormiscium spp. producing only cytochalasin B. Moreover, it has been reported that the only phytopathogenic fungus, producing cytochalasins, specifically H and J, is Phomopsis paspalli. The role of the cytochalasins A and B in the observed oleander leafblight is under investigation. However, it appears that their importance is very limited because most of the lipophilic phytotoxic activity remains in the organic chromatographic fractions after their purification. Furthermore, a very strong phytotoxic activity was found still in the same culture filtrate after exhaustive CH2Cl2 extraction. The toxicity of the volatile oil of the leaves of Clausena anisata Hook. f. (Rutaceae) to variegated grasshopper Zonocerus variegatus L. is reported. The plant species has a strong, aromatic odor compared by some to aniseed and by others to garlic. Its uses in some parts of Africa and the Phillipines had earlier been reviewed. One of the many uses is the burning of the dried plant to repel mosquitoes. Novak also demonstrated that the volatiles from the leaves of the plant had repellent activities against a tick, Ixodes ricinus. Steam distillation of the fresh leaves yielded a strong, sweet-smelling, brownish-yellow oil. Acute toxicity tests on the oil showed that it was toxic to the third nymphal instar of the grasshopper. Chromatography led to the isolation of estragole (the major component of the oil) which was 1½ times more toxic than the crude oil. This represents the first report of the biological activity of this compound. Furthermore, its isolation as the major compound from the volatile oil of the leaves of this plant contradicts the earlier report of anethole as the major constituent.