Effect of co-cultivation of two Pleurotus species on lignocellulolytic enzyme production and mushroom fructification

Co-cultivation of mushroom species produce changes on fungal enzyme production and fructification that were not in-depth studied hitherto. This work was conducted with the aim of studying how the interactions between Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus citrinopileatus in a dual culture affect the lignocellulolytic enzymes production, influence yield values and modify the morphological properties of basidiomata obtained. With this purpose monocultures of both species in a straw-based substrate were investigated, as well as dual cultures with 3 different spatial patterns (one fungus in the upper portion of the bag and the second in the bottom, the opposite spatial pattern, and a mix of spawn from both, scattered in each bag). Co-cultivation did not increase basidiomata production, moreover, it inhibited carpophore development of P. ostreatus in the mix, and decreased basidiomata stem’s length significantly. Biological efficiencies achieved in monocultures of P. ostreatus and P. citrinopileatus were 95.3% and 67.6% respectively. Different spatial patterns affected not only enzyme production but also mycelial yield. Cellulolytic and xylanolytic activities detected increased significantly when P. ostreatus was inoculated in the upper portion of the bag and P. citrinopileatus in the bottom part, but co-cultivation did not stimulate ligninolytic enzyme production. The highest laccase (8.2 U g−1) and Mn-peroxidase (7.5 U g−1) activities were detected in monocultures of P. ostreatus, in coincidence with maximum lignin degradation (28%).

► Both Pleurotus species could grow, and produced basidiomata in co-cultivation.
► Spatial patterns influenced not only enzyme production but also basidiomata yield.
► Stem length was reduced, which is more convenient for mushroom farmers.
► In the mix, P. ostreatus reduced significantly its biological efficiency.
► Co-cultivation influenced cellulase and xylanase, but not ligninase production.