Antagonistic Effect of Myristica fragrans and Mondora myristica against Fungi Isolated from Deteriorating Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta)

Abstract

A laboratory study was conducted to investigate the antagonistic effect of aqueous extract of Myristica fragrans and Mondora myristica on Fusarium oxysporum, Geotrichum candidum and mucor species isolated from deteriorating cocoyam using radial growth technique. The plant extract inhibited the growth of all the test fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts ranged between 4.0 ìg/ml and 6.0 ìg/ml while the minimum fungicidal concentration ranged between 4.0 ìg/ml and 7.0 ìg/ml. Aqueous extract of Myristica fragrans appears to be more effective as an antifungal agent than extracts of Mondora myristica. Extracts of Myristica fragrans and Mondora myristica may be important sources of bio-preservative of cocoyam.