ASSESSMENT OF ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES OF Carica papaya LATEX AND AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF Allium sativum AGAINST MYCODETERIOGENS OF TOMATO AND ORANGE JUICE

Antifungal activites of Carica papaya latex and Allium sativum against pathogenic isolates from post-harvest tomatoes and orange juice were evaluated in vitro. The fungal isolates included Aspergillus niger, Penicillium rubrum, Rhizpous stononifer, Fusarium nivale and Aspergillus flavus. Non diluted latex of unripe Carica papaya fruit and aqueous extracts of Allium sativum exhibited a wide range of fungal activities against all the isolates. This antifungal potential and non-phytotoxic nature of the extracts point out their potentiality as ideal preservative in the processing of fruit juice, as protectant of tomatoes against infestation by moulds and, as fungitoxicant during the post-harvest storage.