Valorization of Agricultural and Industrial Wastes to Produce Trichoderma virens, an Effective Plant Disease Biocontrol Agent
摘要
The sustainable management of agricultural crop residues and agro-industrial by-products is a critical issue in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire. This study aimed to evaluate the nutrient potential of various agricultural residues and agro-industrial by-products, such as Yam peel, Cashew apple cake, Maize bran, Coffee parchment, Rice bran, Ripe banana pulp, Cocoa pod pericarp, Banana peel, Rice husk, Sugarcane molasses, Cashew apple juice, Fermented cassava tuber paste water, and Ripe mango pulp, as alternative growth media for three strains of Trichoderma virens (R7, E23, and T7). These substrates were sourced from fields and markets in Yamoussoukro, Central Côte d’Ivoire. The organic matter content of the substrates ranged from 52.77 to 95.79%, except for cashew apple juice and fermented cassava paste water, with respectively 2.69 and 4.53%. The mineral content of the media showed higher levels of Ca and Zn compared to Mg, K, Mn, Fe, Na, P, and Cu. Hierarchical clustering identified three distinct substrate groups based on physicochemical properties. Substrates derived from ripe mango pulp, banana peel, maize bran, and cashew meal supported optimal growth and sporulation of the R7 strain, with growth rates between 11.7 and 14.1 mm/day and spore concentrations averaging 2 × 10⁶ spores/mL after six days. Strains E23 and T7 also grew well on these media but produced lower sporulation rates (≤ 10⁶ spores/mL) compared to R7. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed between these substrates and Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) in terms of growth and sporulation, suggesting their potential for developing T. virens-based biopesticides.