Director: Dr. Pablo Postemsky
Independent Researcher, CONICET

CV

Our group of Biotechnology of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms (LBHCYM) studies agro-residue valorization using microorganisms and nutritional and medicinal properties of cultivated mushrooms and developing technological improvements in the management of edible mushroom production.

In response to regional and national demands, our group performs basic and applied research in parallel with transfer activities for germplasm selection, culture condition optimization, evaluation of functional properties, biomass characterization and evaluation of potential bioprocess applications.

Web page link
http://lbhcymcerzos.wixsite.com/lbhcymcerzos/

Facebook link
https://www.facebook.com/cutlivodehongos/

Hongos_Cerzos

Lines of Research

• Bioproducts, bioinputs and process development applied to edible and medicinal mushroom production 
  

  This line focuses on the study of processes related to edible and medicinal mushroom cultivation and their potential as biomass transformers. Enzymes of industrial interest as well as modified substrates that can be used for animal feed and plant growth are obtained during these processes. Our aims are therefore to obtain commercially valuable subproducts from mushroom production, to improve the production process at a pilot-scale and to reuse biotransformed substrates by returning them to the production chain.

• Valorization of regional agricultural waste products
  By means of basic and applied research studies on solid state fermentation bioprocesses carried out using germplasm selected from microorganisms, we focus our interest on the value added to agricultural residues from i) the southwestern sector and Atlantic coast of  Buenos Aires province, namely the sunflower seed shell, wheat straw, and alperujo olive, and from ii) the coastal Argentinean area, namely, rice straw and hull. The main products are food and metabolites with applications on human health, e.g. edible and medicinal mushrooms and their extractable fractions.
  We also investigate the usefulness of mycelium as  bio-ligand for the sustainable elaboration of panels and to obtain products by green chemistry using pyrolysis.
  Funding source: P-UE 2016 CERZOS-CONICET. BIOCONVERSIÓN Y VALORIZACIÓN DE RESIDUOS AGROINDUSTRIALES DEL SUDOESTE BONAERENSE. PICT 2014-2414; Red CYTED (BIORRECER 316RT0507)

• Biocontrol of Trichoderma contamination
  Funding source: PICT-2016-2095. ANPCyT. BIOCONTROL DE Tricohoderma spp. EN EL CULTIVO DE HONGOS COMESTIBLES Y MEDICINALES. 

• Guidelines for mushroom farming
  Intensive practical and theoretical courses on mushroom cultivation for amateurs and entrepreneurs.  

• Mushroom cultivation promotion in the southwest and Atlantic coast of Buenos Aires province, Argentina
  

  Transfer agreements are made with local actors to promote mushroom cultivation in the southwestern area of Buenos Aires and the Atlantic coast, in an attempt to i) increase mushroom production, ii) propose alternatives for their value added, iii) promote agro-ecological agricultural practices, and iv) generate green jobs. We therefore articulate our activities with those of governmental entities, educational institutions and independent organizations. Funding source: COFECYT-ESPRO 2017.  https://www.hongoscerzos.com/

Recent Publications

• Postemsky P.D. (2020). Bioeconomía con hongos comestibles en el sudoeste y costa atlántica bonaerenses. Revista Ambere 8(1) 42-52. Colegio de Abogados y Procuradores de Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Derecho Ambiental, Argentina http://www.cabb.org.ar/derechoambiental.php, ISSN 2347-0615.
• Pinela, J., Omarini, A.B., Stojković, D., Barros, L., Postemsky, P.D., Calhelha, R.C., Breccia, J., Fernández-Lahore, M., Soković, M. & Ferreira, I.C.F.R (2020). Biotransformation of rice and sunflower side-streams by dikaryotic and monokaryotic strains of Pleurotus sapidus: Impact on phenolic profiles and bioactive properties. Food Research International 132, 109094. doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109094
• Postemsky, P.D., Bidegain, M.A., Lluberas, G., Lopretti,  M.I., Bonifacino, S., Landache,  M.I., Zygadlo, J.A., Fernández-Lahore, M. & Omarini, A.B. (2019). Biorefining via solid-state fermentation of rice and sunflower by-products employing novel monosporic strains from Pleurotus sapidus. Bioresource Technology 289, 121692. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121692. 
• Palazzolo, M.A., Postemsky, P.D. & Kurina-Sanz, M. (2019). From agro-waste to tool: biotechnological characterization and application of Ganoderma lucidum E47 laccase in dye decolorization. 3 Biotec 9, 13.
• Bidegain, M.A., Postemsky, P.D., Pieroni, O. & Cubitto, M.A. (2019). Analysis of the influence of substrate formulations on the bioactive chemical profile of lingzhi or reishi medicinal mushroom, ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes) by conventional and chemometrics methods. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms 21(6), 537-548.
• Kuhar, F., Postemsky, P.D. & Bianchinotti, M.V. (2018). Conditions Affecting Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes) Basidiome Quality, Morphogenesis, and Biodegradation of Wood By-products in Argentina. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 20(5), 495–506.
• Postemsky, P.D., Bidegain, M.A., González-Matute, R., Figlas, N.D. & Cubitto M.A. (2017). Pilot-scale bioconversion of rice and sunflower agro-residues into medicinal mushrooms and laccase enzymes through solid-state fermentation with Ganoderma lucidum. Bioresource Technology 231, 85-93.
• Figlas, N.D., González Matute, R. & Curvetto, N. (2016). Sunflower Seed Hull: Its Value as a Broad Mushroom Substrate. Ann Food Process Preserv. 1(1), 1002.
• Postemsky, P.D. & López-Castro R.I. (2016). Aplicaciones de sustrato residual del cultivo de hongos en la producción hortícola. Horticultura Argentina 35(86), 44-63.
• Postemsky, P.D. & Curvetto, N.R. (2016). In vitro studies of secondary metabolite-related responses in some species of genus Grifola (Agaricomyctes) from Argentina. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms 18(4), 355-363.
• Postemsky, P.D., Marinangeli P.A. & Curvetto, N.R. (2016). Recycling of residual substrate from Ganoderma lucidum mushroom cultivation as biodegradable containers for horticultural seedlings. Scientia Horticulturae 201, 329-337.
• Bidegain, M.A., Cubitto, M.A. & Curvetto, N.R. (2015). Optimization of the Yield of Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Higher Basidiomycetes), Cultivated on a Sunflower Seed Hull Substrate Produced in Argentina: Effect of Olive Oil and Copper. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms 17, 1095–1105.
• Postemsky, P.D. & Curvetto N.R. (2015). Solid-state fermentation of cereal grains and sunflower seed hulls by Grifola gargal and Grifola sordulenta. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation 100, 52-61.
• Postemsky, P.D. & Curvetto N.R. (2015). Submerged culture of Grifola gargal and G. sordulenta (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Argentina as a source of mycelia with antioxidant activity. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms 17(1), 65-76.
• Postemsky, P.D. (2015). Grifola gargal and G. sordulenta, Two Wild Edible Mushrooms with Perspectives as Biotech Products. Fermentation Technology 4, 124.
• González Matute, R., Figlas, D. & Curvetto, N. (2015). Effect of addition of copper or zinc in Agaricus blazei production and their accumulation and bioavailability. 8th International Medicinal Mushroom Conference (IMMC8) Abstracts Book. Manizales, Colombia, August 23, page 44. ISSN 2462-8530. 
• Pesce, G., de Batista, M. & González Matute, R. (2015). Análisis económico y financiero de la producción de hongos A. brasiliensis. Custos e @gronegócio on line - v. 11, n. 1 – Jan/Mar – 2015. ISSN 1808-2882. pp. 281-310.