Evaluating flavonoids production by solid-state cultivation by filamentous fungi known as biopesticides using wastes abundant in spain as substrates

• Grant number: 24/02449-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda Perpétua Casciatori
• Grantee: Fabíola Ribeiro de Oliveira
• Supervisor: Teresa Gea
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/03828-1 - Development of bioprocess for the production of flavonoids with antagonistic activity to phytopathogens by solid-state cultivation of filamentous fungi, BP.MS

Abstract

The global market for agricultural bioinputs has been growing exponentially in recent years, given their effectiveness and greater sustainability associated with lower environmental impact and risk to human health in comparison to agrochemicals. In addition, they can promote longer effect and self-regulation of agroecosystems. In this context, the current research project aims to evaluate the production of flavonoids by means of the solid-state fermentation of three strains of filamentous fungi known as biopesticides: Beauveria bassiana, Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma reesei. For that, the experiments proposed to be carried out in the facilities of Composting Research Group (GICOM) of the Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, will apply agro-industrial waste which are abundant in Spain as substrates: rice husk, brewer's spent grain (BSG), wheat straw, soy fiber and forestry biomass. The selection of these residues, due to their different chemical compositions, such as lignocellulosic materials, rich in proteins, starch sources and aromatic compounds, expands the projection of application of the expected results in other substrates available in Brazil. The strains will be provided by GICOM and the wastes will be collected at producers' facilities. As the fungal strains have already shown good results as biopesticides, it is promising they can produce flavonoids. From an initial screening, the bioprocess will be optimized through experimental planning with two independent variables: temperature and moisture content. Production kinetics for the target metabolites will be evaluated. The production of flavonoids will be monitored by colorimetric analysis. Finally, for the most promising strain, the process will be scaled up under optimized conditions in packed bed bioreactor (PBB).