Corncob and active charcoal in the Laccase and Basidiome production of Pleurotus sp

Abstract

Corn cob as a lignocellulosic feedstock could be a viable option for edible mushroom production by fungi of the genus Pleurotus considering that there are enormous amounts of this agricultural waste in the State of Parana, as well in the whole Brazil territory. This work evaluated three strains of Pleurotus sp., Pleurotus ostreatus (white and CCB), P. Eryngii (salmon), as laccase producers using liquid extract of corn cob, and solid medium based on corn cob without adding other nutritional sources. A strain of Pleurotus ostreatus (white) produced the highest titres of laccase in liquid medium (1.2 U L^-1) and also on solid medium (~ 2.8 U kg^-1) among the three strains evaluated. The additon of active charcoal increased the biological efficency (30.3 %) of P. eryngii (salmon) when compared in its absence (12.7 %). However, the strain of P. ostreatus (white) did not present statistical difference among the treatments demonstrating that the addition of active charcoal to the solid medium for mushroom production can promote an increase in the biological efficiency depending upon the fungal strain used.