ABSTRACT
Aim: Waste from the agricultural and food industries could be used as a source of nutrients in the culture media for fungal growth and thus reduce environmental pollution and the cost of bioprocesses. In this work, it was determined if some agro-food waste can improve the mycelial growth of fungi and laccase production.Methodology: Culture media with agar and vermicompost, vermiwash, calcined pork bones or fish waste for mycelial growth of fungi were elaborated. The laccase activity of each strain grown in all culture media was also estimated. Results: Pleurotus eryngii, Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus ostreatus, Flammulina velutipes, Pleurotus citrinopileatus and Ganoderma lucidum grew in all culture media, except Lentinula edodes, obtaining in general higher biomass and radial growth rate than those observed on potato-dextrose agar. The maximum laccase activity was found in Pleurotus citrinopileatus cultivated in fish waste medium. The C: N ratio, ashes and pH were important factors for the growth of the strains. Interpretation: There were significant differences in biomass concentration and laccase activity in the designed culture media. These results provide an interesting alternative for the use of wastes and metabolites production of industrial interest.