Evaluación del crecimiento de Pleurotus ostreatus en diferentes sustratos agrícolas para el desarrollo preliminar de biomateriales

The increasing generation of non-biodegradable waste and the need for sustainable alternatives for material production have stimulated interest in mycelium-based biomaterials. This preliminary study aimed to compare the growth of Pleurotus ostreatus in six treatments formulated with plant fibers, spent coffee grounds, and barley grain under laboratory conditions. A Completely Randomized Design with three replicates per treatment was used, for a total of 18 experimental units. Surface colonization percentage, visible contamination, odor, and macroscopic characteristics were recorded over 28 days. Treatments D1 and D2, consisting of barley grain, showed the highest mean colonization values, reaching 94.6 ± 2.1% and 96.2 ± 1.8%, respectively, with no visible contamination. A1 and A2 showed intermediate values, whereas B and C, formulated with spent coffee grounds, presented the lowest colonization percentages and visible contamination in all three replicates. One-way ANOVA showed statistically significant differences among treatments (F(5,12) = 580.41; p < 0.001; η² = 0.996). Tukey's test identified three statistically differentiated groups: D1-D2, A1-A2, and B-C. The results identify differences in the colonization capacity of P. ostreatus under the evaluated conditions and provide a preliminary basis for substrate selection in further studies aimed at biomaterial development. However, these findings do not constitute validation of the physical-mechanical properties, industrial performance, or economic feasibility of the resulting materials.