Food crops such as Maize, Sorghum and Cowpea are widely produced and consumed in West Africa. Unfortunately the production of these food crops faced with several difficulties as well as phytopathogenic fungi which lead to a decrease in production yields and shelf life of foodstuffs. One of the alternatives to chemicals in fighting against these phytopathogenic fungi could be the use of natural substances from local plant species. This investigation has been carried out on the oils of two species of the Africa tropical flora: Ozoroa insignis Del. (Anacardiaceae) and Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (Lam.) Zepern. & Timler (Rutaceae). Antifungal tests were carried out on five phytopathogenic fungi commonly found on West Africa crops seeds. In addition, phytotoxicity tests were carried out on Maize, Cowpea and Sorghum seeds. The results showed that the oils of both species have antifungal effect varying from one fungus to another and from one oil to another. Both oils have an inhibitory effect on Fusarium genus whose fungi involved in the damping-off. In addition, O. insignis oil showed a high inhibitory effect on Macrophomina genus. Phytotoxicity test has shown that Z. zanthoxyloides oil strongly inhibits Sorghum seeds germination. Finally, both oils have shown a stimulating effect on Maize and Cowpea roots growth.
