Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G18/00—Cultivation of mushrooms
  • A01G18/60—Cultivation rooms; Equipment therefor
  • A01G18/64—Cultivation containers; Lids therefor
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G18/00—Cultivation of mushrooms
  • A01G18/20—Culture media, e.g. compost
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G18/00—Cultivation of mushrooms
  • A01G18/40—Cultivation of spawn
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G18/00—Cultivation of mushrooms
  • A01G18/50—Inoculation of spawn

Definitions

• Shiitake and other mushrooms are usually cultivated on logs or in cellulose based substrates.
• a cellulose based substrate is those described in U.S. Patent No. 4,127,965 to
• U.S. Patent No. 4,674,228 issued to Murata removal of the mycelium from such containers often causes damage that reduces productivity.
• U.S. Patent No. 4,735,014 to Weber teaches the use of hemp stalks
• U.S. Patent No. 4,741,122 to Becsy teaches the use of agricultural wastes.
• the invention is a new substrate for the growth of fungi, especially shiitake, created using a new method of sterilizing the substrate to allow cultivation of the desired fungi without contamination by competing organisms.
• the new substrate is grain that is essentially cellulose free and that has been sterilized in accordance with the process described herein.
• the prior art in the growth of mushrooms and other fungi requires growth on logs, sawdust or other substrates containing a major portion of cellulose.
• cellulose is not necessary for the cultivation of shiitake.
• Shiitake mushrooms have the ability to break down cellulose for essential nutrients, but can be more efficiently grown in a substrate containing these materials in an already usable form.
• shiitake can break down lignin, which is a constituent of wood, but again shiitake can be cultivated more efficiently by providing the breakdown products instead of the lignin.
• the substrate is boiled to kill the bacteria that are present.
• the substrate is then cooled to induce any heat resistant spores to germinate.
• the substrate then is steam sterilized after such germination, but before the bacteria have matured sufficiently to form heat-resistant spores.
• non-heating methods of sterilizing the grain substrate also can be used, such as irradiation.
• irradiation of the substrate would require greater governmental regulation and may affect marketability of the resulting mushrooms.
• Other non-heating methods of sterilization could include, for example, chemical sterilization (in which chemical agents in solid, liquid or gaseous form are used for sterilization) or pressure sterilization (in which the substrate is subjected to extremes of high or low pressure (including vacuum), or both).
• the invention can be practiced with the listed sterilization methods and all other sterilization methods that kill bacteria or other spore-forming microorganisms, but that normally leave surviving spores.
• a second sterilization that kills the bacteria or other microorganisms will completely sterilize the substrate, if the second sterilization takes place before the bacteria or other microorganisms have matured sufficiently to form new spores.
• the particular methods of initial and secondary sterilization are not critical, as long as the spores are allowed to germinate after initial sterilization and the substrate is secondarily sterilized before the spores mature sufficiently to form new spores.
• the substrate of the invention thus provides a more efficient medium for cultivation of mushrooms, including shiitake, because the nutrients required by the mushrooms are furnished directly, rather than being furnished in the form of cellulose and lignin that must be enzymatically broken down by the mushrooms.
• the invention also provides a more efficient method of cultivating mushrooms because ⁇ i competing microorganisms, including bacteria, are eliminated from the substrate.
• An advantage of the invention is the shortening of incubation times for the shiitake.
• a further advantage of the invention is the increase in yield per pound of substrate.
• One hundred pounds of the substrate of the invention yields approximately 300 pounds of shiitake within 5 months.
• 100 pounds of logs yields 25 approximately 10 to 15 pounds of shiitake over more than 3 years
• 100 pounds of sawdust based substrate yields approximately 80 pounds of shiitake over 8 months.
• a further advantage of the invention is that no 20 special spawn material is necessary.
• the same material used for fruiting can be used as a spawn material to start new production units, so that production can be increased immediately instead of waiting for new spawn to be grown. Similarly, no
• a still further advantage of the invention is that production units may be kept in incubation beyond the 21 day period for up to 6 months if, for example, market conditions are unfavorable. This Q also allows stockpiling of colonized units for large seasonal production outputs.
• the grain for the substrate is then added and boiled for approximately one hour in order to kill the bacteria present and cause the absorption of the dispersed nutritional supplements into the grain.
• the grain is then allowed to cool to induce germination of any heat-resistant spores. While the grain is cooling, it is mixed with permeability enhancing powders to prevent caking and packed into microorganism impermeable sterilizable containers, such as polypropylene bags. The bags are then steam sterilized in accordance with conventional practice before the germinated bacteria have matured sufficiently to form spores.
• colonization of the bags is accomplished by introducing either pure spawn of the desired fungi or by introducing previously colonized grain.
• the bags are then shaken to mix the spawn or previously colonized grain with the grain in order to decrease the incubation time.
• the bags are then incubated for approximately three weeks at approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit. During this time, the spawn will digest most, if not all, of the substrate to form a mycelium.
• the mycelium can then be induced to fruit by subjecting the bags to a cold shock of 40 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 to 15 days under cool white fluorescent lighting. After the cold shock, fruiting to maturation is accomplished by removing the mycelium from the containers and exposing them to an intermittent chilled water mist, or otherwise placing the mycelium in a high humidity environment.
• fruiting can be induced using only a cold water spray under lighted conditions Brief Description of Drawing.
• Figure 1 is a flow chart of a preferred method of preparing the substrate of the invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out Invention.
• Figure 1 of the drawings sets forth generally a preferred method of preparing the substrate of the invention.
• the ingredients in the substrate are preferably chosen to provide optimum nutrition for the fungi to be grown without requiring additional artificial supplements. This use of all-natural materials therefore makes sale and marketing of the cultivated fungi easier because fewer regulatory requirements are imposed.
• the preferred ingredients, their ranges and the optimum amounts are set forth below for preparing batches of the substrate.
• the maple pea sprouts are preferably grown for 6 to 12 days under a mist system. Commercial bean sprouts may also be used, but more roots and larger cotyledons are available with maple pea sprouts.
• Sorghum provides vitamins, carbohydrates, starches, protein and minerals such as Copper, Iron, Manganese, Zinc and Selenium.
• Oats provide vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, starches, proteins and salicylic acid.
• Salicylic acid promotes shiitake fruiting.
• Rolled barley grain provides vitamins and carbohydrates and absorbs excess water.
• Soybean meal provides a source of minerals, proteins and vitamins. Brewer's yeast powder provides high amounts of vitamins, especially B vitamins that promote mycelial growth.
• Sunflower seed and sunflower oil provide vitamins, minerals, proteins and saturated and unsaturated oils.
• the sunflower seed and oil also promote heavier secondary mycelial growth.
• the pea sprouts promote a heavier amount of fruitings to occur. This allows some control over the size of the mushrooms. More sprouts allow for more mushrooms to form but the mushrooms are smaller in. size. Fewer sprouts allow for fewer mushrooms to form but the mushrooms are larger in size. With no sprouts added, mushrooms with individual weights of from 3/4 lb to 1-1/2 lbs may form on the substrate.
• Garlic provides natural antibacterial action in order to resist bacterial growth after boiling and sterilization of the substrate.
• Molasses provides sugars and wheat germ oil provides saturated and unsaturated oils as well as vitamin D.
• Corn gluten meal provides vitamins, minerals, protein and selenium.
• Potatoes provide starch. Milk provides cassein and cheese can be substituted instead of milk.
• the coating ingredients serve additional functions besides increasing permeability of the substrate.
• Limestone powder adjusts the pH of the substrate to neutral (approximately 7 to 8).
• the gypsum powder also provides long term pH maintenance and makes the grain substrate loose and powdery.
• the cottonseed meal provides protein and oil. It should be noted that the prior art teaches that, under certain conditions, calcium inhibits fruiting of mycelium. However, the substrate of this invention contains substantial amounts of calcium from the limestone and gypsum powder.
• the size and number of mushrooms can be controlled prior to colonization by the amount of substrate that is packed in the bags, with larger bags that contain more substrate producing larger and more mushrooms. For example, eight pound bags will produce 3/4 pound mushrooms for approximately 6 months.
• Mushroom size and number also can be controlled after colonization by allowing individual colonized units to come into contact with each other.
• the individual units will form one large continuous unit forming larger and more numerous mushrooms than an individual unit.
• Fully colonized units can be placed on shelving or strung on rods to maximize production per unit area.
• the water is boiled in a 60 gallon capacity steam kettle with a bottom spigot.
• the potatoes are sliced and then added to the boiling water together with the milk, garlic, corn gluten meal, wheat germ oil, sunflower oil, molasses, hulled sunflower seed, brewer's yeast powder and soybean meal.
• the mixture is then boiled until all components break into small pieces.
• the mixture is preferably mixed with a portable paint mixer to help break clumps into small pieces.
• Maple pea sprouts are then added to the boiling mixture, which is stirred with a large paddle until the sprouts are soft.
• the oat grain, barley grain and sorghum grain are then added, together with sufficient water only to cover the grain.
• the mixture is then boiled and stirred until the water level falls below the grain level by 3 to 4 inches and the heat source is then turned off. After approximately one hour, any remaining liquid is drawn off from the bottom of the pot. At this point, the grai ⁇ should be half-cooked and semi-hard. The grain is then allowed to cool for approximately 24 hours, at which time it is removed from the pot.
• the prepared substrate is then packed into double polypropylene plastic bags (1.5 mil.) .
• Each of these double bag units has a polypropylene collar, a cotton plug and an aluminium foil cover over the plug.
• the bags from 4 batches of the grain (approximately 2,400 pounds) are then loaded in a steam retort (5 foot diameter, 13 feet long) and steam-sterilized at 250° F, 15 pounds per square inches steam pressure for 7 hours. Each load is then cooled for 24 hours before seeding.
• the bags of substrate After the bags of substrate have been sterilized, they are preferably seeded under sterile conditions in laminar airflow hoods. Seeding is accomplished by introducing pure spawn or, preferably, colonized grain from previous production runs. Approximately 5 to 10 tablespoons of colonized grain is added into each 2-pound bag. Each of the bags is then shaken to mix the colonized grain throughout the new unit. This thorough mixing of the previously colonized grain with the substrate reduces the normal incubation time considerably. Thus, a 2-pound bag will usually be fully colonized after approximately 3 weeks of incubation at 80° F. Usually 15 new 2-pound units may be started from each colonized 2-pound unit. The preferred size of bag is 8 pounds because of the disproportionately greater number of buds per
• the grain substrate will be mostly or completely digested, leaving only the mycelium in the bag.
• the bag can be retained in the mycelial stage for approximately 3 to 4 months for shipment or storage.
• the bags containing the mycelium are subjected to a cold shock by chilling them at 40 to 65° F for 5 to 15 days under cool white fluorescent lighting of 25 to 100 lux.
• the preferred cold shock is at a temperature of 45° F for 7 to 9 days, although a cold water bath for 24 to 48 hours also may be used.
• the bags can be shipped in a refrigerated container during this cold shock stage.
• the mycelium may be removed from the bags and exposed to an intermittent cold water mist. It is preferred that the misting take place during daylight hours and also during a 2 hour period during the night.
• the water used for misting is chilled to 50 to 75° F and misting occurs for 2 to 120 seconds at 2 to 10 minute intervals for 6 to 15 hours during the daylight period.
• shiitake mushrooms may be harvested.
• Subsequent crops from the bags may occur 20 to 30 days apart.
• the relative humidity in the misting environment must be at least 80%.
• the mycelium may be removed from the bags and allowed to fruit using previously known methods. After the substrate has been spent, it may be used for other purposes, such as compost, animal feed, mushroom compost for other mushrooms or insect feed.
• the mycelium After formation of the mycelium, but before fruiting, the mycelium also may be used as animal feed or for human food. Useful biochemicals also may be extracted from the mycelium.
• the substrate described herein is suitable for growing many species of mushrooms, including those listed in Mushroom List 1, which is a part of this description and incorporated herein by reference, and many genera of fungi, including those listed in Fungal List 2, which is a part of this description and incorporated herein by reference. Many of these fungi are useful for their biochemical or other properties.
• the substrate can be used for growing penicillin mold, weed molds, yeasts and medicinal mushrooms. Accordingly, no limitation is to be inferred except as set forth in the claims.
• Phaeocoriolellus Potebniamyces Phaeolus Preussia Phanerochaete Psathyrella Phellinus Pseudeurotium Phialomyces Pseudofusarium Phialophora Pseudohydnum Phlebia Pseudospiropes Phlogiotis Ptychogaster
• the invention can be used for the inexpensive and efficient cultivation of fungi, especially shiitake.
• Other fungi also may be cultivated, including fungi useful for food or medicinal purposes.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Mycology (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Micro-Organisms Or Cultivation Processes Thereof (AREA)
• Mushroom Cultivation (AREA)
• Breeding Of Plants And Reproduction By Means Of Culturing (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=23476031

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (22)

Families Citing this family (29)

Citations (1)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 1990
  • 1990-06-26 CA CA002059274A patent/CA2059274A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1990-06-26 WO PCT/US1990/003648 patent/WO1991000002A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1990-06-26 AU AU60534/90A patent/AU6053490A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1990-06-26 EP EP90911078A patent/EP0504142A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1990-06-26 BR BR909007483A patent/BR9007483A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1990-06-26 HU HU906030A patent/HUT59277A/hu unknown
  • 1990-06-26 NL NL9021178A patent/NL9021178A/nl not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1990-06-26 JP JP2510453A patent/JPH05500305A/ja active Pending
  • 1990-06-27 AR AR90317251A patent/AR243930A1/es active
  • 1990-06-28 IL IL94900A patent/IL94900A0/xx unknown
  • 1990-06-28 NZ NZ234286A patent/NZ234286A/en unknown
  • 1990-06-28 CS CS912379A patent/CS237990A3/cs unknown
  • 1990-06-29 CN CN90106529A patent/CN1049184A/zh active Pending
  • 1990-06-29 PT PT94547A patent/PT94547A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1990-06-29 TR TR90/0644A patent/TR26187A/xx unknown
  • 1990-06-29 PL PL28586090A patent/PL285860A1/xx unknown
  • 1990-06-29 ZA ZA905085A patent/ZA905085B/xx unknown
• 1991
  • 1991-12-19 GB GB9127448A patent/GB2251250B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1991-12-20 DK DK205091A patent/DK205091A/da unknown
  • 1991-12-27 FI FI916135A patent/FI916135A0/fi not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1991-12-27 OA OA60120A patent/OA09526A/en unknown
  • 1991-12-30 SE SE9103854A patent/SE9103854L/ not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1993
  • 1993-10-30 CN CN93114120A patent/CN1032567C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (1)

Non-Patent Citations (3)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events