ABSTRACT
The exploitation of residues is a very important opportunity to add value to industrial by-products. By microbiological ways, several products from plant material via biodegradation can be obtained. In every microbial process, there is biomass production, degradation products, and high added-value compounds from the metabolism and all of these can be recovered according to the nature and purpose of the bioprocess. As previously stated, many useful outcomes from these procedures can be generated and strategies must be developed to take advantage of the microbes/substrate interaction to a great extent. Examples of current research are available to start applications and gain profits from large amounts of residues from the agri-food industry. To mention such examples are the utilization of corncobs by fungal 2solid-state fermentation as pretreatment for saccharification and fungal enzymes production and recovery. Husks or peels from fruits, such as orange residues can be used for fungal spore production and pecan nut powder can be fermented to release antioxidant phenolics where the fermented material can be used as fertilizer. This chapter deals with an overview of how microbial processes take place while degrading plant tissues where several bioactive compounds can be released and industrially useful enzymes are produced as well.
