Bioconversion of starch processing waste to Phellinus linteus mycelium in solid-state cultivation

The objective of the experiment was to use starch processing waste as an alternative growth medium for cultivation of mycelia of the mushroom Phellinus linteus and to find an optimum condition under solid-state cultivation. Response surface analysis along with a central composite design was successfully applied to approximate the simultaneous effects of the substrate concentration (16–36 g l−1), pH (4.5–6.5), and temperature (25–35 °C) on the mycelial growth rate. In the model, pH and temperature significantly affected the mycelial growth but substrate concentration did not. The optimal substrate concentration, pH, and temperature for maximizing growth rate of P. linteus mycelia were found to be 16.5 g l−1, pH 6.0, and 29.7 °C, respectively. Subsequent verification of these levels agreed with model predictions and the maximum mycelial growth rate at these conditions was 6.1 ± 0.8 mm day−1. Therefore, the results of the experiments suggest that starch processing waste could be utilized as a growth substrate for the cultivation of the mushroom mycelia of P. linteus, enhancing the usefulness of this byproduct of the starch manufacturing industry. This approach is likely to be useful for establishing similar parameters for the cultivation of other fungi.