Biology of Pleurotus eryngii and role in biotechnological processes: a review

Pleurotus eryngii is considered a complex species owing to a perplexed structure within species and a wide geographical distribution. Due to its remarkable flavor, high nutritional value, and numerous medicinal features, P. eryngii is commercially cultivated on various raw plant materials. Its efficacy in using nutrients from lignocellulose residues is based on possession of a potent ligninolytic enzyme system, constituted of laccase, Mn-oxidizing peroxidases, and aryl-alcohol oxidase, which successfully degrade different aromatic compounds. Similarly, due to the ability of these enzymes, P. eryngii plays a very important role in many biotechnological processes, such as food production (edible basidiomata), biotransformation of raw plant materials to feed, biopulping and biobleaching of paper pulp, as well as bioremediation of soil and industrial waters.