The production of plastic packing grows worldwide, resulting in the accumulation of these materials in the environment due to improper disposal and problems related to degradation. Alternatively, composites produced with agricultural residues and filamentous fungi may exhibit physical and mechanical properties similar to or greater than expanded polystyrene, depending on the fungal species and substrate of the cultivation. In the literature, no reports were found on the use of coconut powder and edible fungi of white rot in the mechanical properties of composites. Thus, the objective of this work was to select fungal isolates and to evaluate the period of cultivation in the mechanical resistance of composites produced in coconut powder supplemented with wheat bran. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 5 x 3 factorial scheme corresponding to the cultivation of five edible fungal isolates (Pleurotus ostreatus: POS-W, POS-SP1, POS-98/38; Pleurotus eryngii: POS ER and Pycnoporus sanguineus: PS) and three culture periods after complete colonization of the substrate (15, 30 and 45 days), with four replications. The period of cultivation of the fungal isolates may influence in the composite mass loss and volume loss. The compressive strength and tenacity of the composite are influenced by the fungal isolate and the time of cultivation. The isolates of Pycnoporus sanguineus, Pleurotus ostreatus and P. eryngii present potential characteristics for the production of biodegradable composites.

The demand for biodegradable composite has grown worldwide in recent years, mainly in order to reduce environmental contamination by structural materials produced from the oil industry. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth of isolates from the edible mushroom “Shiitake” (Lentinula edodes) in substrate coconut powder-based supplemented with wheat bran, as well as to analyze the influence of fungi growing period and drying time of the colonized substrate on the mechanical properties of the composite, in order to produce a biodegradable composite. The mycelial density is not influenced by the type of hyphae of L. edodes. Drying of the composite does not influence the residual odor, depending on the isolate. The compressive strength and foam type of the fungal composite may be influenced by the culture period and type of hyphae, depending on the fungal isolate. The composites colonized by the L. edodes isolates presented higher mechanical resistance at 30 days of complete colonization. The coconut powder supplemented with wheat bran colonized by isolated fungi LED 96/18 is an ecological alternative in the packaging production considering its mechanical properties.

Na agricultura orgânica um dos principais problemas fitossanitários é a ocorrência de nematoides Meloidogyne spp., os quais podem reduzir em até 100% da produtividade a depender da interação com a planta hospedeira. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da interação de micro-organismos do solo, do substrato de cultivo do cogumelo comestível Lentinula edodes e do biofertilizante Protector® NM no controle de Meloidogyne incognita em quiabeiro cultivado em uma propriedade orgânica. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente ao acaso composto por cinco tratamentos (controle - sem inoculação fúngica, sem fertilizante; Protector® NM – sem inoculação fúngica + fertilizante; dois isolados fúngicos de L. edodes (LED): LED-AJU1, LED-CHI e pela mistura de LED-CHI + Penicillium spp.) distribuídos em três blocos com 11 plantas por tratamento e por bloco. O controle do M. incognita pelo fungo L. edodes é influenciado pela colonização micorrízica, a depender da interação microbiana. A colonização do quiabeiro por fungos DSE não interfere no controle de M. incognita pelos isolados de L. edodes e o emprego do biofertilizante Protector® NM, mas influência na colonização por FMAs nativos a depender da interação. O biofertilizante Protector® NM e o isolado LED-CHI+Penicillium apresentam potencial no controle de M. incognita. A interação entre FMAs nativos e o isolado LED-CHI apresenta potencial no controle do nematoide M. incognita, o que representa uma alternativa para agricultura orgânica.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytic fungi (DSE) promote increase in plant biomass, depending on the soil and climate conditions and the interactions with the host plant. The objective of this study was to evaluate the interaction of exotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and native DSE fungi on the initial growth of P. millegrana. A completely randomized experimental design comprising the Paspallum millegrana cutilvar with the following treatments: control - without AMF, and three exotic AMF isolates (UFLA351 - Rhizoglomus clarum, UFLA372 - Claroideoglomus etunicatum and UFLA401 - Acaulospora morrowiae), with four replications each. P. millegrana grass was colonized by exotic AMF by R. clarum (UFLA351, 11.9%), C. etunicatum (UFLA372, 39.6%), and A. morrowiae (UFLA401, 51.2%). P. millegrana was also colonized by native DSE fungi, but these did not interfere with the colonization by exotic AMF and plant development. P. millegrana is responsive to the inoculation of UFLAs isolates of exotic AMF, which may contribute to the grass growth and survival under field conditions. The process of surface disinfestation of seeds does not eliminate endophytic microorganisms, whose presence may influence plant colonization by AMF, as well as development of the host plant.