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Abstract
Carica papaya L. has found importance to mankind as fruit and herb, but the recent outbreak of pawpaw foot-rots, which causes severe attack and huge losses to the C. papaya plantation in Nigeria needs to be investigated. Therefore, this study evaluates the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on Pythium aphanidermatum, the causative pathogen of pawpaw foot rot. In the open field pot experiment arranged in a complete randomised design, the treatment of P. aphanidermatum alone showed significant (p < 0.05) reductions in the growth parameters of C. papaya seedlings, while the two AMF used in this study; Glomus mosseae and Glomus deserticola significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed the pathogenic effects of P. aphanidermatum and also enhanced the seedling growth when applied alone. However, G. deserticola recorded higher significance (p < 0.05) effect in this study. Apart from the biocontrol activities of the two AMF on P. aphanidermatum, they are also excellent bio fertilisers that significantly (p < 0.05) enhance the growth of C. papaya seedlings. Thus, the unique potentials of AMF especially G. deserticola should be harnessed in crop production.