Optimización de las variables nutricionales y ambientales para el crecimiento y producción del hongo Pycnoporus spp

Abstract

The fungus Pycnoporus spp. has gained increasing relevance for its applications in biotechnology, the food industry, and pharmacology due to its enzymatic properties and bioactive metabolites, such as laccases and antioxidant compounds. However, the lack of standardized protocols for its cultivation limits large-scale production. This study focused on the optimization of nutritional and environmental variables to enhance their growth and production in different culture media, with emphasis on the use of lignocellulosic residues such as sugarcane bagasse, pine sawdust, wheat straw, and rice straw. A completely randomized experimental design was used with four treatments differentiated by substrate formulation, replicated four times, and variables such as mycelial colonization, dry biomass production, and fructification were evaluated. Mycelium isolation and propagation were carried out in solid (PDA) and liquid-supplemented media under controlled conditions of temperature, humidity, and pH. Growth kinetics were evaluated by absorbance, and statistical analyses (ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD) were applied to determine significant differences between treatments. The results showed that the T1 and T3 formulations presented higher biomass yields and morphological stability. In conclusion, the combination of cellulose-rich substrates supplemented with nitrogen sources and controlled culture conditions significantly favors the development of Pycnoporus spp. This proposal can be replicated in industrial processes to produce enzymes and bioactive metabolites with high added value in areas such as food, environmental, and pharmaceutical.