Fungi can help solve several problems in fish farming. They can make plant-based fish feed more nutritious and easier to digest, boost fish immune systems and disease resistance without antibiotics, help fish feed float better in water, and clean up polluted water from fish farms. This makes aquaculture more sustainable and environmentally friendly while reducing costs for farmers.
This comprehensive review explores how scientists can use modern genetic engineering tools to improve filamentous fungi (molds and mushrooms) for producing valuable products like antibiotics, enzymes, and sustainable food and materials. The authors explain that while these fungi naturally excel at breaking down plant material and producing useful compounds, they haven’t received as much attention from genetic engineers as other microorganisms. By applying techniques like CRISPR gene editing, computational modeling, and directed evolution, researchers can make fungal strains grow faster, produce higher yields, and use cheaper feedstocks, making industrial production more efficient and environmentally friendly.
This study examined how different combinations of agricultural waste materials affect the growth and quality of oyster mushrooms. Researchers tested various recipes using rice straw, rice husks, and sawdust with different additives, composting for different lengths of time. They found strong relationships between mushroom size (cap width and stalk length) and overall yield, suggesting these measurements can reliably predict mushroom quality and help with pricing and grading.
Researchers discovered that vermiculite, a naturally occurring mineral, is an excellent material for growing fungi that produce proteases—enzymes used in medicine, laundry detergents, and food processing. When Aspergillus fungi were grown on vermiculite using a technique called solid-state fermentation, they produced 3 to 18 times more protease than when grown on other materials. This discovery could make enzyme production more efficient and cost-effective for industrial applications.
Researchers discovered a fungus called Aspergillus oryzae that produces lipase, an important enzyme used in many industries. They found that this fungus works best when grown on cheap agricultural waste materials like wheat bran and rice bran, making enzyme production more affordable and environmentally friendly. By optimizing growth conditions and using waste materials, they successfully increased lipase production and showed this approach could be used in industrial-scale enzyme manufacturing.
Scientists have sequenced the genetic code of Aspergillus oryzae, a fungus commonly used to make fermented foods and animal feed. This fungus produces useful enzymes that break down plant materials, making nutrients more available. The completed genome sequence helps researchers ensure the fungus is safe for food production by checking for any potential health risks.
Scientists discovered that a protein called PRMT5 helps mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) produce more cellulase enzymes, which break down plant materials like corn straw and corn cobs. By controlling a specific gene called eg2 through a chemical modification on histone proteins, PRMT5 increases enzyme production. This discovery could help industries produce cellulase more efficiently and sustainably convert agricultural waste into useful sugars for biofuels and other products.
Oyster and king oyster mushrooms produce powerful enzymes called proteases that can break down proteins. These enzymes have multiple uses including fighting parasitic infections in animals and plants, making cheese, dissolving blood clots, and being used in detergents and cosmetics. The mushrooms can be grown on agricultural waste, making this a sustainable and cost-effective way to produce these valuable enzymes.
Scientists studied a beneficial fungus called Trichoderma atroviride that kills crop-damaging pathogens. They discovered that the type and quality of nutrients available directly affects how aggressive this fungus becomes. When provided with better nutrients like glucose and ammonia, the fungus produces more powerful enzymes to attack and destroy its prey. Remarkably, this fungus can even tell the difference between different types of pathogens and adjusts its attack strategy accordingly, making it a promising candidate for environmentally-friendly crop protection.
Researchers isolated wood-decaying fungi from forests in Latvia to identify species that produce powerful enzymes capable of breaking down complex plant materials. These enzymes have practical applications in cleaning contaminated water, treating textile industry waste, and converting plant biomass into useful products. The study found that certain environmental fungi, particularly Trametes pubescens, produced enzymes at levels exceeding those of commercially used strains, suggesting they could be valuable tools for environmental cleanup and industrial processes.