Statistical Experimental Design as a New Approach to Optimize a Solid-State Fermentation Substrate for the Production of Spores and Bioactive Compounds from Trichoderma asperellum

Abstract

Managing organic agricultural wastes is a challenge in today’s modern agriculture, where the production of different agricultural goods leads to the generation of large amounts of waste, for example, olive pomace and vine shoot in Mediterranean Europe. The discovery of a cost-effective and environment-friendly way to valorize such types of waste in Mediterranean Europe is encouraged by the European Union regulation. As an opportunity, organic agricultural waste could be used as culture media for solid-state fermentation (SSF) for fungal strains. This methodology represents a great opportunity to produce secondary metabolites like 6-pentyl-alpha-pyrone (6-PP), a lactone compound with antifungal properties against phytopathogens, produced by Trichoderma spp. Therefore, to reach adequate yields of 6-PP, lytic enzymes, and spores, optimization using specific agricultural cheap local wastes from Southeastern France is in order. The present study was designed to show the applicability of an experimental admixture design to find the optimal formulation that favors the production of 6-PP. To conclude, the optimized formulation of 6-PP production by Trichoderma under SSF contains 18% wheat bran, 23% potato flakes, 20% olive pomace, 14% olive oil, 24% oatmeal, and 40% vine shoots.

Turning Waste into Wealth: Utilizing Trichoderma’s Solid-State Fermentation to Recycle Tea Residue for Tea Cutting Production

“…He et al [40] inoculated composite microbes containing Trichoderma during biogas residue composting, resulting in increased degradation rates of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin compared to the control group. Hamrouni et al [41] optimized the SSF conditions for Trichoderma asperellum to produce 6-pentyl-alpha-pyrone. The products containing Trichoderma had been proven to enhance cucumber biomass; improve the growth, yield, and quality of Bupleurum chinense; and enhance nutrient absorption in Phaseolus vulgaris while reducing disease incidences caused by Sclerotium rolfsii [42][43][44].…”