A biotechnological approach to fungal biomass production: Cultivation of Fomitopsis pinicola using plant-derived waste materials

Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Food Technologies, 26 Maritza Blvd., 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria

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Abstract

The utilization of plant-derived waste materials as a nutrient source for the cultivation of basidiomycetes has attracted increasing interest within the scientific community due to its sustainability and biotechnological potential. Bulgaria, a major exporter of wheat and globally renowned for its high-quality rose and lavender oils, generates substantial volumes of agricultural by-products that remain underexploited. This study investigates the potential of such plant-based residues as alternative culture media for the in vitro cultivation of Fomitopsis pinicola, and to model the growth kinetics of a newly isolated strain from Bulgaria. Nine different media were evaluated using logistic and reversed autocatalytic growth models. Among the tested substrates, wheat straw with wheat bran (WSWB) supported the most efficient mycelial growth (μ_max = 0.841 ± 0.001d⁻¹). Comparable growth potential was also observed on media containing steam-distilled lavender straw and wheat bran (SDLSWB). Kinetic modeling revealed that the optimal cultivation temperature for F. pinicola on WSWB medium is 28°C, while pH 6.0 was determined to be the most favorable for the growth of the strain. These results highlight the suitability of plant-based residues as sustainable substrates for fungal biomass production and lay the groundwork for the development of eco- friendly biotechnological processes involving basidiomycete fungi.