Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Micro-organism – per se ; compositions thereof; proces of... – Fungi
Patent
1996-11-12
1999-03-30
Lankford, Jr., Leon B.
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Micro-organism, per se ; compositions thereof; proces of...
Fungi
4352568, 47 11, 71 5, A01G 104
Patent
active
058888039
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for producing fungi wherein the formation of fruiting bodies is performed from a casing material arranged on a solid nutritive medium for the fungi.
The invention also relates to a casing material for the use in the production of fungi.
The present invention furthermore relates to a casing material formulation comprising fungal mycelium used for the inoculation of a casing material.
Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a casing material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditionally, the production of fungi such as mushrooms proceeds in a series of steps as follows: (spawn); inoculated nutritive medium; material with the mycelium of fungi; fruiting bodies from the substantially continuous layer of casing material; layer of casing material.
The casing material will establish the conditions necessary for the growth of mycelia, and will support the formation of fruiting bodies of fungi, without a casing material. The formation of fruiting bodies has up to now been considered impossible.
Casing materials used in a traditional production lay-out of fungi, such as mushrooms, are normally based on peat.
Peat is not considered being a sterile material, and may, like any natural organic material consisting mainly of partly decomposed organic material such as sphagnum moss, contain pathogens harmful to the crop of fungi such as Trichoderma sp.
Peat has a natural low pH which must, in order to reduce the risk of attack of pathogens harmful to fungi, be increased to a pH of 7 or above by mixing a liming material into the peat casing. Being a natural organic material and due to the need of mechanical handling, the structure of peat will tend to break down and collapse in use, and as a result hereof the pore space within the peat casing material available for mycelial growth and/or water will be reduced. Moreover, as a result of a structural disintegration, water logged conditions will be established in the peat casing. This will lead to a poor gas exchange to and from the peat casing which in turn will lead to a reduced formation of fruiting bodies and thereby to financial losses for the grower.
Normally, very large quantities of peat, over 100,000 m.sup.3 per year in e.g. the United Kingdom alone, is used for the preparation of casing material in the production of fungi, and because peat is one of nature's resources it is likely that sources of peat (peat bogs) will be depleted or that availability will be restricted due to the legislation protecting the sites where peat is excavated.
Some attempts have been made to optimize the production of fungi using materials as casing layer that could reduce one or more of the above mentioned identified problems associated with the use of peat as a casing material as well as reduce the amount of a casing material used in the production of fungi.
Furthermore, there is an increasing need for the development of improved methods for growing fungi involving the application of alternative casing materials on a solid nutritive medium. Such casing materials having improved characteristics over known casing materials thereby being able e.g. to obtain a better yield and/or quality of produce.
Surprisingly, the present inventor has found that it is possible to establish mycelial colonization, pinning of fruiting bodies of mushrooms and subsequent formation of fruiting bodies in a casing material comprising granules or agglomerates of a mineral fibre structure arranged on a solid nutritive medium.
The following provides a review of the literature relating to the production of fungi and disclosing compositions containing mineral fibres used in the production of fungi.
Kokai (Japanese Patent Publication) No. 3-123417 discloses the use of a culture medium of "stone wool" (mineral fibres) having capillary action, immersed in a culture solution. Cultivation is conducted on the culture medium to fruit body of mushroom. It is stated that the liquid medium contains glucose, polypeptone, yeast extract,
REFERENCES:
patent: 3828470 (1974-08-01), Stoller
patent: 4170842 (1979-10-01), Stoller
patent: 4337594 (1982-07-01), Hanacek et al.
patent: 4443969 (1984-04-01), Hanacek et al.
patent: 5503647 (1996-04-01), Dahlberg et al.
patent: 5514191 (1996-05-01), Miller et al.
Proceedings of the 5th International Congress on Soilless Culture, 18 May 1980, Wageningen (NL) pp. 395-410, Visscher et al. `Subtitutes for peat in mushroom casing soil` cited in the application, see whole document.
Grodania A/S
Lankford , Jr. Leon B.
Tate Christopher R.
LandOfFree
Method for the production of mushrooms does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for the production of mushrooms, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for the production of mushrooms will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1213886