Microbes for Sustainable Production

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbial Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2026 | Viewed by 502

Special Issue Editor

Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China
Interests: mushroom cultivation; composting; microbial diversity; circular agriculture

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global push toward sustainability has placed microbial engineering at the forefront of scientific innovation. From renewable energy and bioplastics to waste valorization and carbon sequestration, engineered microbes are revolutionizing how we address pressing environmental and industrial challenges. This Special Issue aims to explore the application of microorganisms in bioenergy, chemistry, and materials; the optimization of sustainable microbial production strains by biotechnology; and their role in bioremediation and the circular economy.

The Special Issue invites the submission of original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that span a wide spectrum of topics within microbes for sustainable production, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Microbial cell factories for biofuels, chemicals, and materials;
  • CRISPR and synthetic biology tools for strain optimization;
  • Environmental applications, including bioremediation and circular bioeconomy solutions;
  • Microbial interactions and their roles in nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition;
  • Microbes for sustainable production in circular agriculture.

Dr. Yan Zhao
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • microbial biotechnology
  • microbial community
  • microbial diversity
  • microbial interactions
  • sustainable production
  • microbial bioremediation and circular economy

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 2535 KB  
Article
Sustainable Recycling of Mushroom Residue as an Effective Substitute for Cotton Hull Waste in Volvariella volvacea Cultivation: Evidence from Physicochemical and Microbiome Analyses
by Pattana Kakumyan, Lin Yang, Shunjie Liu, Kritsakorn Saninjuk, Qin Dong, Xueyu Pan, Changxia Yu and Yan Zhao
Microorganisms 2025, 13(10), 2372; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102372 - 15 Oct 2025
Viewed by 359
Abstract
Mushroom residue (MR) is extensively produced during the industrialized cultivation of mushrooms, and its utilization is environmentally sustainable. Cotton hull waste (CW) serves as a common raw material for the cultivation of Volvariella volvacea in China. This study compared MR- and CW-based cultivation [...] Read more.
Mushroom residue (MR) is extensively produced during the industrialized cultivation of mushrooms, and its utilization is environmentally sustainable. Cotton hull waste (CW) serves as a common raw material for the cultivation of Volvariella volvacea in China. This study compared MR- and CW-based cultivation formulas with respect to their physicochemical characteristics, bacterial communities, and functional dynamics during substrate fermentation (composting). Xylanase production was greater in the MR formula than in the CW formula. Conversely, cellulase (CMCase) was generated at higher levels in the CW formula compared to the MR formula. Interestingly, the biological efficiency of MR was found to be comparable to that of CW, but the cost of MR was much lower. The dynamics of bacterial communities and their associated metabolic functions during substrate fermentation were monitored using 16S rRNA metagenomics techniques. Significant alterations in bacterial community structure were observed within both formulas throughout the preparation phase. Indicator species analysis revealed distinct patterns of bacterial diversity development between MR- and CW-based composts during fermentation. Metabolic function analysis indicated that carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism remained relatively active throughout this process. These results suggest that the MR formula is equally effective as conventional CW compost for supporting V. volvacea cultivation, while also offering a lower raw material cost. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbes for Sustainable Production)
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