A Targeted Fungal Bioconversion Strategy for Renewable Plant Waste: Solid-State Fermentation with Pleurotus ostreatus (MBI-2022) and Residual Biomass Valorization with Trichoderma spp

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Bakhshaliyeva K., Jafarzadeh S., MUSAYEVA V., Amirova M., Khonagova S., NEYMƏTOVA Ü., ...More

International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences, vol.15, no.2, pp.466-478, 2026 (Scopus)

Abstract

Agricultural processing generates large volumes of lignocellulosic residues (wheat and barley straw, cotton stalks, corn cobs/husks, sunflower husks, and sugar beet waste) that are often under-utilized. We evaluated a circular bioconversion pipeline that (i) upgrades renewable plant waste (RPW) to food and feed products via solid-state fermentation (SSF) with the white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus (strain MBI-2022) and (ii) valorizes post-fruiting residual biomass via short SSF with Trichoderma citrinoviride AEF-2024 and T. harzianum AEF-2024. RPW was pre-moistened (1:1w/w water), sterilized (1atm, 30 min), inoculated at 0.3 kg spawn per 10 kg substrate and incubated at 28°C for 10 days (n=10 containers per substrate; analytical subsamples n=5 unless stated). Cellulose (Kürschner), lignin (Komarov-modified H2SO4), protein (Kjeldahl, N×6.25), lipids (Soxhlet), and nucleic acids (A260/A280) were quantified. Fungal performance was assessed as weight loss, cellulose/lignin degradation, and protein enrichment. Spent substrate was re-inoculated with Trichoderma spp. (5 days) to formulate a biopreparation that was tested in open-field vegetables. Across RPW types, cellulose and lignin were present at levels conducive to bioconversion. After 10 days, representative fungi achieved 31–38% cellulose and 33–40% lignin degradation in wheat straw and cotton stalks, with protein increases from ~2.1–2.7% to ~6.0–8.4% (P≤0.05). P. ostreatus MBI-2022 supported edible fruiting on all substrates; cumulative yield distribution favored wheat straw and sunflower husks. Residual biomass-derived Trichoderma biopreparation reduced disease prevalence by ~20%, increased yield by up to 12%, and improved seedling morphometrics by ~17% in field tests. Conclusion: SSF with P. ostreatus MBI-2022 upgrades RPW to food and nutrient-enriched feed while enabling circular reuse of residual biomass for crop protection. The approach provides a reproducible, low-waste route to valorize agricultural residues within a circular bioeconomy framework.