Integrated use of straw and bioexploitation of Trichoderma

摘要

Trichoderma spp. are well known as bio-control agents. However, for field applications the farmers have to purchase them from agroproduct shops. Similarly, straw from different cereal crops after harvesting is generally not used further. Here an integrated use of straw and bioexploitation of Trichoderma sp. is presented. The technique could be adopted by the farmers themselves in their farms, where they could develop the inoculum of Trichoderma and apply it in the fields. Trichoderma grows exuberantly on grass species and could be used as a cellulosic substrate. More so, on processed straw such as the one thrown out after cultivation of edible mushroom, e.g. Pleurotus spp. on which Trichoderma grows as a contaminant. If the area of cultivation of edible mushroom and growth of Trichoderma are separated, then instead of throwing out the residual straw, the same could be reused to grow and multiply Trichoderma by maintaining appropriate moisture through solid substrate fermentation (SSF). Trichoderma spp. are one of the best candidates for cellulase production. Trichoderma grows profusely and also produces millions of conidia. Before extracting cellulase enzyme from the SSF-grown substrate, if the spores are separated and made into a spore suspension, it could be applied directly in the agriculture fields which would serve as a biocontrol agent. The residual straw that is still left after separation of cellulase enzyme and spores of Trichoderma sp., could be reused for ethyl alcohol production employing Saccharomyces cere-visiae in the subsequent stage. Straw is used for composting and as a feed for cattle. Instead of straw directly being used in composting, various intermediate steps could be undertaken to get several other benefits, as suggested above and schematically represented in Figure 1.