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.

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