Abstract: Phytophthora infestans is a pathogenic fungus known for its destructive characteristic against tomato and potato plants. The
pathogen is notorious for its mutative ability against very effective antifungal compounds. This research, therefore, focused on the possible effects
of aqueous leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus (P. amarus) in the treatment of the disease. Tomatoes were planted in nursery beds and transplanted
into sacks. The experimental treatment consisted Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with six treatments and 3 replicates, which include normal
control (plants not inoculated with Phytophthora infestans), untreated control (infested plants not being treated), 0.2 mg/ml extract (infested plants
were treated with 0.2 mg/ml of P. amarus extract), 0.4 mg/ml extract (infested plants were treated with 0.4 mg/ml of P. amarus), 0.6 mg/ml extract
(infested plants were treated with 0.6 mg/ml of P. amarus) and 0.2 mg/100 ml mancozeb (infested plants were treated with 0.2 mg/ml of mancozeb
standard drug). Phytochemical analysis of P. amarus was conducted. The phytochemical analysis result showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins,
saponins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids and anthraquinones. Application of P. amarus expressed significant effects (P < 0.05) on the growth
parameters, with distinct remediation occurring in 0.6 mg/mL in the plant height (36.04±3.29 cm), leaf count (160.00±25.33), stem girth (8.68±0.56
cm) and fruit count (5.85±0.79). The yield parameter showed significant increase in the yield weight of 0.2 mg/ml (323.67 g), 0.4 mg/ml (339 g)
and 0.6 mg/ml (375.33 g) extract when compared with the untreated control (212.8 g). The aqueous leaf extract of P. amarus expressed promising
antifungal effect against Phytophthora infestans disease of tomato, especially at 0.6 g/ml application rate.
Keywords: Antifungal, Mancozeb, Phyllanthus amarus, Phytophthora infestans, Solanum lycopersicum, Tomatojaerem NEW Obidola, Shakirdeen Mayowa 1A
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