CONTROL OF CASSAVA ROOT ROT WITH LEAF EXTRACTS OF COSTUS AFER AND MIMOSA PUDICA

Fungitoxic effect of methanol extracts of Costus afer (Ker) and Mimosa pudica (L.) were investigated in vitro on causative agents of cassava root rot using methanol extraction method. The microbial pathogens were Aspergillus niger, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium solani and Rhizopus stolonifer. The methanol extracts of the plants were prepared by adding separately 100g, 150g and 200g of the leaf powder of Costus afer and Mimosa pudica into 100ml of methanol. Inhibition zones of the test organisms varied at various concentrations. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was employed and Duncan’s new multiple range test (DNMRT) was also used to test the difference among treatment. The result of this study revealed that the plant extracts showed antifungal activity against the test organisms at various concentrations. Methanol extract of Mimosa pudica showed higher antifungal activity against the test pathogens than the methanol extract of Costus afer. The most fungitoxic extract on Rhizopus stolonifer was obtained with Mimosa pudica at 100g/ml. The antifungal potentials of C. Afer and M. pudica as observed in this study therefore raises hope in the use of biopesticides to control fungal pathogens.