Biodegradation of cocoa shell by phytopatogenic fungi for Pleurotus ostreatus production

Three treatments based on spores Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (B1), spores Rhizopus stolonifer (B2) and a mixture of spores Colletotrichum gloeosporioides + Rhizopus stolonifer (B3) to increase the degradation of the cocoa shell. Using the treatment (B1) was obtained the highest degradation of the cocoa shell being of 57.18%, and the leachates production was of 84 mL with pH of 4.10. Pleurotus ostreatus strain (UE01) was cultivated using a mixture of wheat straw with cocoa shell degraded (without or with the 3 treatments), and the productivity and chemical composition of the mushrooms were determined. Pleurotus ostreatus strain (UE01) cultivated on the mixture of wheat straw with cocoa shell degraded with the treatment (B2) showed the highest biological efficiency (124.15 %) and the highest production rate (2.71 %), while the fruit bodies obtained in this mixture exhibited the highest protein content being of 27.84%, and lowest carbohydrate content being of 63.83%. The solutions with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Rhizopus stolonifer can be used for the farmers to improve the degradation of cocoa shell and increase the production of Pleurotus ostreatus mushrooms with highest protein content.

Keywords: Cocoa shell, degradation, Pleurotus ostreatus.