Resumen
- Biological control is an environmentally effective technology for the reduction of pests through the use of natural enemies called biological control agents (BCA). Among BCA, Trichoderma is an important biopesticide fungus against several plant pathogens. The present study, shown the evaluation of a solid-state fermentation process in order to produce spores by Trichoderma harzianum. Sugarcane bagasse, wheat bran, and potato flour were evaluated as a mix of substrates to produce fungal spores. CO2 released during mycelial growth and sporulation was monitoring by respirometry. Effect of dry air was evaluated on the decrease stage of fungal metabolism as an inducer of sporulation, and also the effect of drying on the viability of the spores produced. Under these conditions, the maximum concentration of spores was 8.4x109 spores/g carbon source (CS) at 96 h. Results demonstrated that dry air applied on SSF did not have influence on the increase of spore produced, but it can accelerate this process (at least 24 hours) and also to increase the spore viability (1.3 x109 spore/ g carbon source, with 24.7 % of viability, respectively). SSF without application of dry air showed a production of 8.9x109 spore/g CS. In parallel, the endoglucanase and exoglucanase activities were evaluated obtaining 11.6 and 0.86 U/g CS, respectively.