ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES OF Jatropha curcas AND Ricinus cumunis SEEDS ON Fusarium verticilliodes AND Aspergillus flavus IN YAM

Abstract

Antifungal properties of Jatropha curcas and Ricinus cumunis seed extracts in the control of mycelia growth and rot development of yam caused by Fusarium verticilliodes and Aspergillus flavus was investigated in-vitro and in-vivo. Water extracts of deoiled, crude extract and extracted oil of Jatropha curcas and Ricinus cumunis (castor oil) were testedagainst A. flavus and F. verticilliodes. The effect of these treatments were compared with Super homai and distilled water.Data on mycelia growth were recorded by day 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th days, respectively. The result showed that in-vitro and in vivo, castor oil seed crude extract lowers mycelia growth of F. verticilliodes significantly at (P<0.05) compared to other treatments, it also lowered the rot index in yam. Similarly, castor seed oil (crude extracts) had the lowest mycelial growth on A. flavus in-vitro while in-vivo, J. curcas crude extract and deoiled castor seed oil (crude extract) significantly (P<0.05) reduced rot depth of yam compared with other treatments. The findings indicate promising potentials of J. curcas and R. cumunis seeds in management of plant fungal diseases.