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Antifungal effects of Jatropha curcus (L.), Psidium guajava (L.) leaf extracts and mancozeb solution on Rhizopus stolonifer (Link) and Penicillium expansum (Link) isolated from cassava tuber rot whose pathogenicities were proven were assessed. Mancozeb solution was used as a standard fungicide to compare its effects on the fungi with those of the leaf extracts. Antifungal properties by the extracts and mancozeb solution were separately assessed on inhibition of fungal growth on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). The experiment was a completely randomized design with three replications per treatment. The inhibitory action of the extracts and mancozeb on mycelial growth increased with increasing concentrations. Both J. curcus and P. gujava leaf extracts reduced the radial growth of the pathogens; J. curcus leaf extracts reduced the growth of Rhizopus stolonifer by 84.44% and reduced that of P. expansum by 88.89%. The percentage reduction of the growth of Rhizopus stolonifer in P. guajava leaf extract is 92.67% and reduced P. expansum by 93.11% (P≤0.05). Mancozeb solution reduced the radical growth of Rhizopus stolonifer and P. expansum by 90.22% and 92.22% respectively.
The extracts and fungicide were however, more inhibitory to Penicillium expansum than to Rhizopus stolonifer.