JP2004305043A

JP2004305043A - Method and device for producing mushroom liquid spawn for inoculation

Info

Publication number: JP2004305043A
Application number: JP2003100399A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Kazunari Abe; 一成阿部
Original assignee: Enokien Kk
Current assignee: Enokien Kk
Priority date: 2003-04-03
Filing date: 2003-04-03
Publication date: 2004-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 2023-04-03
Also published as: JP3834010B2

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing mushroom liquid spawn for inoculation by which inexpensive liquid spawn obtained through liquid culture can be transported from a spawn culture plant at a low cost so as to reduce costs for the liquid spawn and make mushroom producers enjoy merits of liquid spawn inoculation; and to provide a device for producing mushroom liquid spawn for inoculation by the method. <P>SOLUTION: The method for producing mushroom liquid spawn for inoculation comprises reducing mushroom liquid spawn obtained through liquid culture to liquid spawn for being inoculated in culture medium in a cultivation container. In the liquid culture medium, moisture in the liquid spawn obtained through liquid culture is reduced. In the inoculation medium, the moisture-reduced liquid spawn is reduced so as to obtain liquid spawn suitable for inoculation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、接種用のきのこの液体種菌の製造方法及び製造装置に関し、特に液体培養された液状種菌から水分を減じる処理を施した後に、接種に適した液状種菌に還元して接種することを可能にする接種用のきのこの液状種菌の製造方法及び製造装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
栽培容器を用いたえのき茸、ブナシメジ、エリンギ等の茸の人工栽培は、栽培容器内の培地にきのこの種菌を接種して培養する。栽培容器内の培地に接種する種菌には、固形状のものと液状のものが存在する。
【０００３】
固形状の種菌を使用する場合は、接種後の培養期間が長くなり、種菌の培養容器を一定期間収容するスペースを確保する必要がある。そこで、液状種菌の製造方法として、きのこの液体種菌の製造方法及び液体種菌の接種装置（特開２００２−５１６３９号公報）が提案されている。ここでは、きのこの種菌を、液体培地を用いて振とう培養（前培養）した後に、培養液中で伸張した菌糸を、ホモジナイザー等を用いて粉砕し、粉砕された菌糸を含む培養液を、大容量の液体培地で希釈した後、これを再び培養（本培養）することにより増量した培養液を種菌として用いる方法が開示されている。
【０００４】
また、液体培地を用いて培養する場合は静置した状態にしておくと菌糸が絡み合って塊状になるためにこれを防止するべく攪拌装置を付加した大容量のタンクが必要となる等の問題点を解消するために、大容量の液体培地を用いた本培養は行わずに、種菌を液体培養し、培養液中で塊状となった菌糸を粉砕機で粉砕した後、この培養液を減菌水で希釈することにより増量した種菌混合液を接種用の種菌として用いる方法が開示されている（特開２００２−３４５３３３号公報）。特開２００２−３４５３３３号（請求項３）では、大容量の液体培地を用いた本培養は行わず、種菌を液体培養し、培養液中で塊状となった菌糸を粉砕機で粉砕した後、この培養液を減菌水で希釈することにより増量した種菌混合液を種菌として用いている。
【０００５】
特公平８−２４４８７の実施例１では、培養した種菌を培養液ごとホモジナイザーで細断した後これを減菌水で希釈した種菌と、ポリアクリル酸ソーダを添加した減菌水で希釈した種菌とを、接種した後の活着率及び菌糸の蔓延日数を比較した実験をそれぞれの種菌について行っている。
【０００６】
上記従来例においては、培養液中で伸張或いは塊状となった菌糸を粉砕して、これを液体培地或いは減菌水等で希釈することにより増量した種菌を接種用のきのこの液状種菌として用いている。
【０００７】
液状種菌は、固形種菌に比して種菌製造コストは大幅に低いが、種菌生産設備が高額であり、一般のキノコ生産工場には殆ど普及していない。また、各工場が液状種菌を自ら製造しなければならず、そのための場所と労力が必要となることから、一般的な規模のキノコ工場への導入ではコスト面での優位性もなかった。従って、従来の固形種菌を種菌工場から購入する方法と比較して全くメリットがなかった。そこで、固形種菌と同様に種菌培養工場から液状種菌を輸送しようとする場合、種菌の重量が重く、輸送コストが嵩むという問題があった。
【０００８】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
本発明は、上記事情に鑑みなされたものであり、液体培養された廉価な液状種菌を、種菌培養工場から低コストで搬送可能にして種菌コストを削減すると共に液状種菌接種のメリットを享受できる、接種用きのこの液状種菌製造方法及びその装置を提供することを課題とする。
【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の課題は、液体培養したきのこの液状種菌（ステップＳ１）を栽培容器内の培地に接種する（ステップＳ４）ための液状種菌に還元して製造する方法であって、液体培養実施地において、液体培養した液状種菌から水分を減じるための減水処理（ステップＳ２）を施し、接種実施地において、減水処理された種菌を接種に適した液状種菌に還元処理（ステップＳ３）して培地に接種する、接種用きのこの液状種菌の製造方法によって解決される。
【００１０】
本発明に係る前記液体培養実施地における液状種菌の減水処理（ステップＳ２）は、濾過装置による種菌のゾル又はゲル状化処理２１０、ゾル又はゲル状化処理の後乾燥装置による種菌の乾燥処理２２０、乾燥処理の後細断装置による種菌のシート状又は粒状化処理２３０、シート状又は粒状化処理の後粉砕装置による種菌の粉状化処理２４０、の中から選択されるいずれか一つの処理であることを特徴とする。
【００１１】
また、本発明に係る前記液体培養実施地における液状種菌の減水処理は、減圧ポンプ２９により液体培養タンクを減圧処理して、液状種菌から水分を減じるように構成することができる。この場合、減圧ポンプにより減水された種菌は、直接接種実施地において還元処理してもよく、更に濾過装置等により減水処理を行った後還元処理してもよい。
【００１２】
本発明に係る減水処理された種菌の前記接種実施地における液状種菌還元処理（ステップＳ３）は、前記減水処理された種菌と殺菌処理された水又は水を主成分とする溶液３１とを混合攪拌する処理である、ことを特徴とする。
【００１３】
前記液状種菌の減水処理中の、種菌のゾル又はゲル状化処理又は種菌の乾燥処理によって排出される培養液５１を液体培養タンク１０、１０−１・・・に戻して培養液（液体培地）を再利用可能とすることができる。この場合、栄養素６１を適宜補充して液体培養を実施する。また、使用済み培養液を還流させるタンクは培養に当該培養液を使用したタンク１０でもよく、次に培養に使用する別のタンク１０−１・・・でもよい。
【００１４】
また本発明の課題は、液体培養したきのこの液状種菌を栽培容器内の培地に接種するための液状種菌に還元して製造する装置であって、液体培養装置１０により培養された液状種菌１３から水分を減じる減水処理装置２１、２２、２３、２４と、前記減水処理装置により減水された種菌を接種に適した液状種菌に還元する還元処理装置３０と、を備えた接種用きのこの液状種菌の製造装置によって解決される。
【００１５】
本発明に係る前記減水処理装置は、培養された液状種菌から種菌を濾し取る濾過装置２１、濾し取られた種菌を乾燥する乾燥装置２２、乾燥された種菌をシート状又は粒状に細断する細断装置２３、シート状又は粒状に細断された種菌を粉状に粉砕する粉砕装置２４、の中から選択されるいずれか一つであることを特徴とする。
【００１６】
本発明に係る前記液状種菌に還元する還元処理装置３０は、前記減水処理装置２１、２２、２３、２４により減水処理された種菌と、殺菌処理された水又は水を主成分とする溶液３１とを混合攪拌して接種に適した液状種菌３３に還元処理する、ことを特徴とする。
【００１７】
なお、本発明においては、減水処理の中の、液状種菌から種菌を濾し取る濾過装置２１による種菌のゾル又はゲル状化処理２１０の前または後にポリアクリル酸ソーダ等を添加してもよい。この場合、減水処理した種菌に保湿効果を与えて種菌の長期保存が可能となり、また減水された種菌を接種に適した液状種菌に還元する還元処理において増粘剤としてのポリアクリル酸ソーダ等を添加する手間が省ける。
【００１８】
本発明に係る上記減水処理によって、液状種菌は水分を減じているため、容積と重量が大幅に減り、輸送コストが低減される。これにより種菌培養工場で製造された減水種菌をきのこ生産工場に低コストで供給することが可能となる。
【００１９】
本発明によれば、きのこ生産工場は種菌工場から供給される廉価な減水種菌を簡易かつ低コストで液状種菌に還元処理することができる。したがって、きのこ生産工場は種菌のコストを低減することができ、種菌として液状種菌を接種するため培養期間を短縮させることもできる。
【００２０】
【発明の実施の形態】
次に本発明の実施の形態について添付図を参照して詳細に説明する。図１は、本発明に係る接種用きのこの液状種菌の製造方法の処理手順を示すフローである。本発明においては、先ず、きのこの種菌を液体培養して液状種菌を製造する（ステップＳ１）。続いて、ステップＳ１で培養が完了した液状種菌から水分を減らす（減水処理）ことにより、ゾル又はゲル状、乾燥、シート状又は粒状、または粉状の種菌を製造する（ステップＳ２）。次いで、ステップＳ２で減水処理した種菌を殺菌処理された水若しくは水を主成分とする殺菌処理された液体を加えて接種に最適な濃度の液状種菌に還元処理する（ステップＳ３）、その後、ステップＳ３で還元処理した液状種菌を栽培容器内に充填された殺菌処理済みのきのこの培地に接種する（ステップＳ４）。
【００２１】
この場合、液体培養して液状種菌を製造する工程（ステップＳ１）と製造された液状種菌から水分を減らす減水処理工程（ステップＳ２）は、きのこの種菌の液体培養工場（液体培養実施地）で行われる。減水処理された種菌を輸送手段によりきのこの栽培工場に搬送し、搬送先の栽培工場（接種実施地）において、接種に最適な濃度の液状種菌に還元する処理（ステップＳ３）と還元処理された液状種菌を培地に接種する処理（ステップＳ４）が行われる。
【００２２】
図２は本発明に係る接種用きのこの液状種菌の製造方法を実施するための装置の構成例を示す図である。図において、１０は液体培養装置（培養タンク）で、２１、２２、２３、２４は、減水処理装置としての濾過装置、乾燥装置、細断装置、粉砕装置であり、３０は減水処理装置により減水処理された種菌を接種用液状種菌に還元する還元処理装置である。
【００２３】
きのこの種菌を培養する液体培養装置１０は、種菌１１と液体培地１２を収容してきのこの液状種菌１３の培養を行う。気密ハッチ１０１は、液体培養装置１０の上部に取り付けられ、種菌、液体培地等の投入、タンク内の清掃時に用いられる。温度制御機構１０２は、培養タンク１０の外周に配設され、培養タンク１０内の液体培地の温度を制御して殺菌、冷却、保温を行う。培養制御機構１０３は培養液の攪拌、培養液への空気の供給等を行う。
【００２４】
バルブ１０４は、培養タンク１０の底部に配設され、培養を完了した液状種菌１３をポンプ１０５に供給する。ポンプ１０５は、バルブ１０４により供給された液状種菌１３を減水処理装置としての濾過装置（フィルター）２１、乾燥装置２２、細断装置２３、粉砕装置２４に供給する。
【００２５】
フィルター２１は、液状種菌１３から種菌（菌糸）を漉し取り、種菌（菌糸）と使用済培養液（液体培地）５１を分離してゾル又はゲル状の種菌２１０を製造する。すなわち液状種菌１３から水分を減らす減水処理を行うものである。なお、使用済液体培地５１は図５、６の説明で後述するが、再度培養タンクに戻して再利用することができる。乾燥装置２２は、フィルターにより漉し取られた種菌（菌糸）を乾燥させて更に水分を抜き取り固形化（乾燥）した種菌２２０を製造する。なお、ここで除去された水分も再度培養タンクに戻して再利用することができる。
【００２６】
細断装置２３は、乾燥装置２２により固形化された種菌２２０を細断機にかけてシート状又は粒状の種菌２３０を製造するものである。また、粉砕装置２４は、乾燥装置２２により固形化された種菌２２０又は細断装置２３によりシート状又は粒状化した種菌２３０を粉砕機にかけて粉状の種菌２４０を製造するものである。
【００２７】
次に、図２を参照して本実施の形態に係る接種用液状種菌の製造装置の動作を説明する。気密ハッチ１０１から液体培地１２を培養タンク１０内に投入する。温度制御機構１０２が培養タンクを１００℃〜１２１℃周辺の高温に維持して内部の培地を殺菌する。殺菌が終了すると温度制御機構１０２はタンクを冷却して、内部に収容された液体培地の温度を種菌の培養に適した温度に維持する。えのき茸を例にとると、この温度は１３℃〜２１℃となる。
【００２８】
液体培地の温度が種菌の培養に適した温度に達した後に、液体培地を用いて振とう培養されたきのこの液状の培養液中に含まれるきのこの菌糸を、ホモジナイザー等を用いて細断した後、気密ハッチ１０１から培養タンク１０内の液体培地に加える。培養制御機構１０３は、タンク内の液体培地を攪拌すると同時に、液体培地内に気泡の形で空気を導入する。培養タンク１０内で培養が完了すると、液体培地内できのこの菌糸が伸張して液状種菌１３となる。
【００２９】
次に、培養が完了した液状種菌１３に対して以下のような減水処理を施す。先ず、バルブ１０４を開いて液状種菌１３をポンプ１０５によりフィルター２１に導入する。フィルター２１が液状種菌１３から菌糸（種菌）を漉し取り、液状種菌を使用済培養液５１と菌糸（種菌）に分離して、ゾル又はゲル状の種菌２１０を得る。乾燥装置２２はフィルター２１から供給されるゾル又はゲル状の種菌２１０の水分を飛ばして固形の種菌２２０を製造する。細断装置２３は乾燥装置２２から供給される固形の種菌をシート状又は粒状の種菌２３０を製造する。粉砕装置２４は乾燥装置２２から供給される固形の種菌又は細断装置２３から供給されるシート状又は粒状の種菌を粉砕して粉状の種菌２４０を製造する。以下、ゾル又はゲル状種菌２１０、固形種菌２２０、シート状又は粒状種菌２３０、粉状種菌２４０を総称して減水種菌と呼ぶこともある。なお、本実施例においては、培養タンクで培養が完了した液状種菌を減水処理することとしているが、本発明では振とう培養された種菌を直接減水処理できることはいうまでもない。
【００３０】
このように、上記減水処理工程の各実施例で製造される減水種菌は、水分を減じているため、容積と重量が減り、輸送コストを大幅に低減できる。これにより液体培養工場側は、廉価で製造した減水種菌をきのこ栽培工場に低コストで輸送することが可能となる。
【００３１】
種菌工場（液体培養工場、液体培養実施地）で減水処理された上記減水種菌を、保湿剤を添加して又は保湿性を有する無菌気密容器に封入して、種菌工場から輸送手段によりきのこ生産工場（栽培工場、接種実施地）に出荷する。
【００３２】
きのこ生産工場では、水を主成分とする液体を用いて、種菌工場から供給される減水種菌を接種に最適な濃度を持つ液状種菌に還元処理する。減水種菌の還元処理に用いる溶媒としては、減菌水又は減菌水に増粘効果を与える物質例えばポリアクリル酸ソーダ等を添加した水を主成分とする液体を用いることができる。減水種菌の還元処理工程において、還元された液体種菌を、ホモジナイザー等の粉砕機を用いて、接種に最適な大きさに粉砕しても良い。このようにして得られた液状種菌を栽培容器内に充填された培地に接種してきのこ栽培が行われる。
【００３３】
ここで、図３を参照して減水種菌を接種用液状種菌に還元処理する装置について説明する。図において、３０は液状種菌還元処理装置（小型タンク）で、減水種菌を接種用液状種菌に還元処理するものである。小型タンク３０は、減水種菌２１０、２２０、２３０、２４０と殺菌処理済の水３１を収容して混合する。気密ハッチ３０１は小型タンク３０の上部に取り付けられ、減水種菌、滅菌水等の投入及びタンク内の清掃時に用いられる。攪拌機構３０２は、タンク内に収容された減水種菌と滅菌水等とを攪拌混合して還元液状種菌３３に還元処理して、接種用液状種菌を生成する。小型タンク３０の還元液状種菌３３は、バルブ３０４を開放することにより、接種用液状種菌として接種装置４０に供給される。液体種菌接種装置４０は、供給された液状種菌を栽培容器４２内の殺菌処理されたきのこの培地４１に接種する。
【００３４】
次に、図３を参照して還元処理装置の動作を説明する。気密ハッチ３０１から減水種菌２１０、２２０、２３０または２４０と殺菌処理済みの水等３１を小型タンク３０内に導入し、攪拌機構３０２により攪拌して混合する。減水種菌として粉状種菌以外のものを使用する場合は、攪拌機構３０２は攪拌と同時に菌糸の粉砕も行う。減水種菌が水中にまんべんなく浮遊した時点で還元液状種菌３３となる。バルブ３０４は還元液状種菌３３を接種用液状種菌として液状種菌接種装置４０に供給する。液状種菌接種装置４０は液状種菌の供給を受けて、適量な液状種菌を種菌として栽培容器４２に充填された殺菌済みのきのこの培地４１に接種する。この場合、液状種菌接種装置として本出願人が提案した接種装置（特願２００３−５６５６５）を利用することができるが、各種接種装置も利用可能である。
【００３５】
このように、きのこ生産工場側では、種菌工場から廉価で供給される減水種菌を簡易かつ低コストで接種に適した液状種菌に還元処理することができる。従って、培養期間を短縮可能な液状種菌をきのこの栽培に利用できる。
【００３６】
次に、本発明に係る減水処理の他の実施例について図４を参照して説明する。図に示すように、培養タンク１０に減圧ポンプ２９が取り付けられている。液体培養が完了した液状種菌１３の温度を培養最適温度に維持した状態で、減圧ポンプ２９により培養タンク１０内の空気を排気３９として外部に排出する。これにより培養液から効率的に水分が蒸発することになり、培養液から水分が抜き取られる。水分が減ぜられた液状種菌はバルブ１０４を介して、減水種菌として前述した還元処理装置３０に供給される。なお、減圧ポンプにより減水された種菌をさらに濾過装置２１等により減水処理を行った後還元処理装置３０に供給してもよい。このように、本実施例では液状種菌に含まれる水分のみを抜き取るという特徴を有している。
【００３７】
次に、本発明に係る減水処理において排出される培養液の再利用の実施の形態について図５、６を参照して説明する。５１は使用済培養液であり、フィルター２１によって液状種菌１３から菌糸を漉し取られ分離された培養液である（図２参照）。図５に示すように、フィルター２１に供給して減水処理する液状種菌１３を培養したタンク１０に、使用済培養液５１を還流するように構成する。この場合、消費された液体培地内の栄養分として殺菌処理された補充栄養素６１を添加して補うことにより、同一タンクで連続して液体培養を行う。このように、本実施例では殺菌済みの培養液（液体培地）５１を自身のタンクに還流し、殺菌済みの栄養分を添加しているために、連続培養した場合に培養開始前に行う殺菌処理が不要となると共に、液体培地の再利用による省資源に貢献するものである。
【００３８】
図６は、減水処理において排出される培養液の再利用の他の実施の形態を示す図である。本実施例も前記実施例と同様に、フィルター２１によって液状種菌１３から菌糸を漉し取られ分離された培養液を再利用するものであるが、本実施例においては、使用済培養液５１を別の培養タンク１０−１・・・に還流するものである。本実施例においても、消費された液体培地内の栄養分を補うために、補充栄養素６１を添加補充して該培養タンクの培養液（液体培地）として使用する。本実施例でも培養液を再利用しているため、種菌製造コストが削減されると共に省資源に貢献する。なお、乾燥装置２２によって抜き取られた溶液も再度培養タンクに戻して再利用することができる。図５、６の他の構成は既に説明しているのでここでは省略する。
【００３９】
【実施例】
えのき茸の菌糸を、ジャーファメンターを用いて液体培養し、培養終了後の培養液からフィルターを用いて５００ｇのゲル状の菌糸を取出し、ゲル状の菌糸の水分を５０％まで減じて固形状の減水種菌を製造した。その後、殺菌処理された気密容器に封入し、容器を５℃の環境下で二日間保管した。種菌を保管後、気密容器より５ｇの種菌を取出し、減菌水５０ｃｃを用いて還元処理し、約５０ｃｃの還元液状種菌を製造した。容量８５０ｃｃの栽培容器にコーンコブを主成分とする培地を６５０ｇ詰め、殺菌処理後前記還元液状種菌を２５ｃｃ接種した。その結果、通常の液状種菌を接種した場合と同様に２０日で培養工程を完了した。その後生育工程を経て収穫したキノコは、従来の固形種菌を用いて栽培したキノコと比較してなんら有意差は見られなかった。
【００４０】
【発明の効果】
上述したように、本発明においては、培養された液状種菌から水分を減じる減水処理を施しているため、液状種菌の容積と重量が減り、輸送コストが大幅に低減される。従って、種菌工場は、液体培養した液状種菌を減水処理した種菌をきのこ生産工場に低コストで輸送することが可能となる。
【００４１】
また、本発明によれば、減水処理した種菌を簡易な装置により低コストで接種用液状種菌に還元処理できる。従って、種菌工場から低コストで供給された各きのこ生産工場は、液状種菌製造装置を各々に備えることなく、廉価な還元液状種菌を接種用として容易に取得して使用できる。さらに、種菌として液状種菌を接種するため培養期間を短縮するという液状種菌接種特有の効果も得ることができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係る接種用きのこの液状種菌の製造方法の処理を示すフローである。
【図２】本発明に係る接種用きのこの液状種菌の製造装置の構成例を示す図である。
【図３】本発明に係る減水種菌を接種用液状種菌に還元処理する装置の構成例を示す図である。
【図４】本発明に係る減水処理の他の構成例を示す図である。
【図５】本発明に係る減水処理において排出される培養液の再利用の構成例を示す図である。
【図６】本発明に係る減水処理において排出される培養液の再利用の他の構成例を示す図である。
【符号の説明】
１０、１０−１・・・液体培養装置（液体培養タンク、培養タンク）
１１種菌
１２液体培地（培養液）
１３液状種菌
２１減水処理装置（濾過装置・フィルター）
２２減水処理装置（乾燥装置）
２３減水処理装置（細断装置）
２４減水処理装置（粉砕装置）
２９減圧ポンプ
３０還元処理装置（液状種菌還元処理装置・小型タンク）
３１殺菌処理水（滅菌水）
３３還元液状種菌
３９排気
４０接種装置（液体種菌接種装置）
４１きのこの培地
４２栽培容器
５１使用済培養液（使用済液体培地）
６１補充栄養素（栄養素）
１０１気密ハッチ
１０２温度制御機構
１０３培養制御機構
１０４バルブ
１０５ポンプ
２１０ゾル又はゲル状種菌（減水種菌）
２２０固形種菌（減水種菌）
２３０シート状又は粒状種菌（減水種菌）
２４０粉状種菌（減水種菌）
３０１気密ハッチ
３０２攪拌機構
３０４バルブ[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing a liquid inoculum for mushrooms for inoculation, and in particular, after performing a process of reducing water from a liquid inoculated liquid inoculum, reducing the liquid inoculum to a liquid inoculum suitable for inoculation and inoculating the liquid inoculum. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a liquid inoculum capable of inoculation.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Artificial cultivation of mushrooms such as enoki mushrooms, beech shrimp, and eryngii using a cultivation container is performed by inoculating a culture medium in the cultivation container with a mushroom inoculum. Seed bacteria to be inoculated into the culture medium in the cultivation container include solid ones and liquid ones.
[0003]
When a solid inoculum is used, the cultivation period after inoculation becomes long, and it is necessary to secure a space for accommodating the inoculum culture vessel for a certain period. Therefore, as a method for producing a liquid inoculum, a method for producing a liquid inoculum of a mushroom and an inoculating apparatus for a liquid inoculum (JP-A-2002-51639) have been proposed. Here, after the seed culture of mushrooms is shake-cultured (pre-culture) using a liquid medium, the mycelium expanded in the culture solution is ground using a homogenizer or the like, and the culture solution containing the ground mycelium is subjected to There is disclosed a method of diluting with a large volume of liquid medium and then culturing (main culturing) again to use an increased amount of a culture solution as a seed culture.
[0004]
In addition, when culturing using a liquid medium, if the culture is left standing, the hyphae become entangled and clumped, so that a large-capacity tank with a stirring device is required to prevent this. In order to solve the problem, the main culture using a large volume of liquid medium was not performed, but the inoculum was liquid-cultured, and the mycelia that became clumpy in the culture solution were pulverized with a pulverizer. A method has been disclosed in which a mixed solution of inoculum increased by dilution with water is used as an inoculum for inoculation (JP-A-2002-345333). In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-345333 (Claim 3), the main culture using a large-capacity liquid medium is not performed, but the inoculum is liquid-cultured, and the mycelium that has clumped in the culture solution is pulverized by a pulverizer. An inoculum mixture increased by diluting the culture with sterile water is used as the inoculum.
[0005]
In Example 1 of Japanese Patent Publication No. H8-24487, the cultured inoculum was shredded with a homogenizer together with the culture solution and then diluted with sterile water, and the inoculum was diluted with sterile water to which sodium polyacrylate was added. For each inoculum, the survival rate after inoculation and the number of days of mycelial infestation were compared.
[0006]
In the above-mentioned conventional example, the mycelium expanded or clumped in the culture solution is pulverized, and the inoculum increased by diluting it with a liquid medium or sterile water is used as a liquid inoculum for inoculation. I have.
[0007]
Liquid inoculum has a much lower inoculum production cost than solid inoculum, but the inoculum production equipment is expensive and is hardly used in general mushroom production plants. In addition, since each plant had to produce the liquid inoculum on its own, which required a place and labor, there was no cost advantage in introducing a mushroom plant on a general scale. Therefore, there is no merit as compared with the conventional method of purchasing a solid inoculum from an inoculum factory. Therefore, when the liquid inoculum is to be transported from the inoculum cultivation plant in the same manner as the solid inoculum, there is a problem that the inoculum is heavy and the transportation cost is increased.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, it is possible to enjoy the advantages of liquid inoculum inoculation while reducing the cost of inoculated liquid inoculated liquid inoculated liquid inoculum at a low cost from the inoculum culture plant, It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing a liquid inoculum for mushrooms for inoculation and an apparatus therefor.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An object of the present invention is a method for producing a liquid inoculum obtained by liquid culture by reducing the liquid inoculum (Step S1) to a liquid inoculum for inoculating a medium in a cultivation container (Step S4). , A water-reducing treatment (step S2) for reducing water from the liquid-cultured liquid inoculum, and in the inoculation site, the water-reduced inoculum is reduced to a liquid inoculum suitable for inoculation (step S3) and the medium is inoculated. And a method for producing a liquid inoculum for inoculation.
[0010]
The water reduction treatment of the liquid inoculum in the liquid culture site according to the present invention (step S2) includes a sol or gelling treatment 210 of the inoculum by the filtration device, a drying process 220 of the inoculum by the drying device after the sol or gelation treatment. , After the drying process, a sheet or granulation process 230 of the inoculum by the shredding device, and after the sheet or granulation process, a powdering process 240 of the inoculum by the pulverizing device. There is a feature.
[0011]
In addition, the water reduction treatment of the liquid inoculum in the liquid culture site according to the present invention can be configured so that the liquid inoculation tank is depressurized by the vacuum pump 29 to reduce the water content of the liquid inoculum. In this case, the seed bacterium reduced in water by the vacuum pump may be subjected to a reduction treatment directly at the inoculation site, or may be subjected to a water reduction treatment using a filtration device or the like, and then subjected to a reduction treatment.
[0012]
In the liquid inoculum reduction treatment (step S3) of the inoculated site of the water-reduced inoculum according to the present invention, the water-reduced inoculum is mixed with sterilized water or a solution 31 containing water as a main component. The processing is characterized in that
[0013]
The culture solution 51 discharged by the sol or gelation treatment of the inoculum or the drying treatment of the inoculum during the water-reducing treatment of the liquid inoculum is returned to the liquid culture tanks 10, 10-1,. Can be made reusable. In this case, the nutrient 61 is appropriately replenished and liquid culture is performed. Further, the tank for refluxing the used culture solution may be the tank 10 using the culture solution for culturing, or another tank 10-1 for next culturing.
[0014]
Another object of the present invention is an apparatus for producing a liquid inoculum obtained by liquid culture by reducing the liquid inoculum into a liquid inoculum for inoculating a culture medium in a cultivation container. The inoculum mushroom liquid inoculum comprising a water reducing apparatus 21, 22, 23, 24 for reducing the water content, and a reducing apparatus 30 for reducing the inoculum reduced by the water reducing apparatus to a liquid inoculum suitable for inoculation. Solved by manufacturing equipment.
[0015]
The water reduction treatment device according to the present invention includes a filtration device 21 for filtering the seeds from the cultured liquid seeds, a drying device 22 for drying the filtered seeds, and a thinning device for cutting the dried seeds into sheets or granules. It is characterized in that it is any one selected from a cutting device 23 and a crushing device 24 for crushing the seeds shredded into sheets or granules into powder.
[0016]
The reduction treatment device 30 for reducing to the liquid inoculum according to the present invention, the inoculum subjected to the water reduction treatment by the water reduction treatment device 21, 22, 23, 24, and sterilized water or a solution 31 containing water as a main component. Are mixed and agitated to reduce to a liquid inoculum 33 suitable for inoculation.
[0017]
In the present invention, sodium polyacrylate or the like may be added before or after the sol or gelling treatment 210 of the inoculum by the filtration device 21 for filtering out the inoculum from the liquid inoculum during the water reduction treatment. In this case, a long-term preservation of the inoculum is provided by giving a moisturizing effect to the water-reduced inoculum, and sodium polyacrylate or the like as a thickener in a reduction treatment for reducing the inoculated inoculum to a liquid inoculum suitable for inoculation. The labor of adding can be saved.
[0018]
Since the liquid seed bacterium has reduced the water content by the water reducing treatment according to the present invention, the volume and weight are significantly reduced, and the transportation cost is reduced. This makes it possible to supply the reduced water inoculum produced at the inoculum cultivation factory to the mushroom production factory at low cost.
[0019]
According to the present invention, the mushroom production plant can easily and inexpensively reduce the inexpensive water-reduced inoculum supplied from the inoculum plant to the liquid inoculum. Therefore, the mushroom production plant can reduce the cost of the inoculum, and can also shorten the culture period because the liquid inoculum is inoculated as the inoculum.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure of a method for producing a liquid inoculum for inoculation mushrooms according to the present invention. In the present invention, first, a mushroom inoculum is liquid-cultured to produce a liquid inoculum (step S1). Subsequently, sol or gel, dried, sheet or granule, or powdery inoculum is produced by reducing the water content (water reduction treatment) from the liquid inoculum that has been cultured in step S1 (step S2). Next, the inoculum subjected to the water reduction treatment in step S2 is reduced to an inoculum having a concentration optimal for inoculation by adding sterilized water or a sterilized liquid containing water as a main component (step S3). The liquid inoculum reduced in S3 is inoculated into the sterilized mushroom medium filled in the cultivation container (step S4).
[0021]
In this case, the step of producing the liquid inoculum by liquid culturing (step S1) and the step of reducing the water content from the produced liquid inoculum (step S2) are performed in a liquid culture plant (liquid culture site) of the mushroom inoculum. Done. The inoculum that has been subjected to the water reduction treatment is transported to the mushroom cultivation factory by a transport means, and is reduced (step S3) and reduced at the transport destination cultivation factory (inoculation site) to a liquid inoculum having a concentration optimal for inoculation. A process (Step S4) of inoculating the liquid inoculum into the medium is performed.
[0022]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an apparatus for carrying out the method for producing a liquid inoculum for inoculation mushrooms according to the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a liquid culture device (culture tank), 21, 22, 23, and 24 are a filtration device, a drying device, a shredding device, and a crushing device as water reduction devices, and 30 is water reduction by the water reduction device. It is a reduction treatment device that reduces the treated seed to liquid seed for inoculation.
[0023]
A liquid culture device 10 for cultivating a mushroom inoculum cultures a mushroom liquid inoculum 13 containing a inoculum 11 and a liquid medium 12. The airtight hatch 101 is attached to the upper part of the liquid culture device 10 and is used for charging a seed bacterium, a liquid culture medium, and the like, and cleaning the inside of the tank. The temperature control mechanism 102 is disposed on the outer periphery of the culture tank 10 and controls the temperature of the liquid medium in the culture tank 10 to perform sterilization, cooling, and heat retention. The culture control mechanism 103 performs agitation of the culture solution, supply of air to the culture solution, and the like.
[0024]
The valve 104 is provided at the bottom of the culture tank 10, and supplies the liquid inoculum 13 that has been cultured to the pump 105. The pump 105 supplies the liquid inoculum 13 supplied by the valve 104 to a filtration device (filter) 21, a drying device 22, a shredding device 23, and a crushing device 24 as water reducing devices.
[0025]
The filter 21 strains the inoculum (mycelium) from the liquid inoculum 13 and separates the inoculum (mycelium) from the used culture solution (liquid medium) 51 to produce a sol or gel-like inoculum 210. That is, a water reduction process for reducing water from the liquid seed bacteria 13 is performed. Although the used liquid medium 51 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, it can be returned to the culture tank and reused. The drying device 22 manufactures the inoculum 220 in which the inoculum (mycelium) filtered by the filter is dried to further remove water and solidify (dry). The water removed here can be returned to the culture tank and reused.
[0026]
The shredding device 23 is a device that shreds the inoculum 220 solidified by the drying device 22 to produce a sheet or granular inoculum 230. The crushing device 24 is a device for producing a powdery seed bacterium 240 by pulverizing the seed bacterium 220 solidified by the drying device 22 or the seed bacterium 230 formed into a sheet or granule by the shredding device 23.
[0027]
Next, the operation of the apparatus for producing a liquid inoculum for inoculation according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The liquid culture medium 12 is put into the culture tank 10 from the airtight hatch 101. The temperature control mechanism 102 maintains the culture tank at a high temperature around 100 ° C. to 121 ° C. and sterilizes the internal culture medium. When the sterilization is completed, the temperature control mechanism 102 cools the tank and maintains the temperature of the liquid medium contained therein at a temperature suitable for cultivating the inoculum. Taking the enoki mushroom as an example, this temperature is 13 ° C to 21 ° C.
[0028]
After the temperature of the liquid medium reached a temperature suitable for cultivation of the inoculum, the mushroom mycelium contained in the liquid culture medium of the mushroom that had been shake-cultured using the liquid medium was shredded using a homogenizer or the like. Thereafter, the mixture is added from the airtight hatch 101 to the liquid medium in the culture tank 10. The culture control mechanism 103 agitates the liquid medium in the tank and simultaneously introduces air into the liquid medium in the form of bubbles. When the culture is completed in the culture tank 10, the mycelium formed in the liquid medium is expanded to become the liquid seed bacteria 13.
[0029]
Next, the liquid inoculum 13 that has been cultured is subjected to the following water reducing treatment. First, the valve 104 is opened, and the liquid inoculum 13 is introduced into the filter 21 by the pump 105. The filter 21 filters out the mycelium (inoculation) from the liquid inoculum 13 and separates the liquid inoculum into the spent culture liquid 51 and the mycelium (inoculation) to obtain a sol or gel-like inoculum 210. The drying device 22 removes the moisture of the sol or gel-like inoculum 210 supplied from the filter 21 to produce a solid inoculum 220. The shredding device 23 manufactures a sheet or granular seed microorganism 230 from the solid seed microorganism supplied from the drying device 22. The crushing device 24 crushes the solid inoculum supplied from the drying device 22 or the sheet or granular inoculum supplied from the shredding device 23 to produce the powdery inoculum 240. Hereinafter, the sol or gel-type inoculum 210, the solid inoculum 220, the sheet or granular inoculum 230, and the powdery inoculum 240 may be collectively referred to as reduced water inoculum. In the present example, the liquid inoculum that has been cultured in the culture tank is subjected to water reduction treatment. However, in the present invention, it is needless to say that the seed inoculation cultured with shaking can be directly subjected to water reduction treatment.
[0030]
As described above, since the water-reducing seed bacteria produced in each of the embodiments of the water-reducing process have reduced water content, the volume and weight are reduced, and the transportation cost can be significantly reduced. As a result, the liquid culture plant can transport the water-reduced inoculum produced at a low cost to the mushroom cultivation plant at low cost.
[0031]
The water-reduced inoculum, which has been water-reduced in the inoculum factory (liquid culture factory, liquid culture site), is added with a humectant or enclosed in a sterile airtight container having moisturizing properties, and is transported from the inoculum factory to a mushroom production plant by transportation means. (Cultivation factory, inoculation site).
[0032]
At a mushroom production plant, a reduced water inoculum supplied from the inoculum plant is reduced to a liquid inoculum having an optimum concentration for inoculation using a liquid containing water as a main component. As a solvent used for the reduction treatment of the water-reducing seed bacteria, there can be used a sterilized water or a liquid mainly containing water to which a substance having a thickening effect on the sterilized water, for example, sodium polyacrylate or the like is added. In the reduction treatment of the reduced water inoculum, the reduced liquid inoculum may be pulverized to a size suitable for inoculation using a pulverizer such as a homogenizer. The mushroom cultivation is performed by inoculating the liquid seed fungus thus obtained into a medium filled in a cultivation container.
[0033]
Here, an apparatus for reducing the reduced water inoculum into a liquid inoculum for inoculation will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 30 denotes a liquid inoculum reduction treatment device (small tank) for reducing water-reduced inoculum to liquid inoculum for inoculation. The small tank 30 contains and mixes the water-reducing seed bacteria 210, 220, 230, 240 and the sterilized water 31. The airtight hatch 301 is attached to the upper part of the small tank 30, and is used for charging the water-reducing seed bacteria, sterilized water, and the like, and cleaning the inside of the tank. The stirring mechanism 302 stirs and mixes the reduced water seed bacterium and sterilized water contained in the tank to reduce the reduced liquid seed bacterium 33 to generate a liquid seed bacterium for inoculation. The reduced liquid seed 33 in the small tank 30 is supplied to the inoculation device 40 as a liquid seed for inoculation by opening the valve 304. The liquid inoculum inoculation device 40 inoculates the supplied liquid inoculum into the sterilized mushroom culture medium 41 in the cultivation container 42.
[0034]
Next, the operation of the return processing device will be described with reference to FIG. The water-reducing seed bacteria 210, 220, 230 or 240 and the sterilized water 31 are introduced into the small tank 30 from the airtight hatch 301, and are stirred and mixed by the stirring mechanism 302. In the case of using other than the powdery seed fungus as the water-reducing seed fungus, the stirring mechanism 302 simultaneously crushes the mycelium simultaneously with stirring. When the water-reducing inoculum is evenly suspended in water, the reduced liquid inoculum 33 becomes the reduced liquid inoculum 33. The valve 304 supplies the reduced liquid inoculum 33 to the liquid inoculum inoculation device 40 as a liquid inoculum for inoculation. The liquid inoculum inoculation device 40 receives the supply of the liquid inoculum, and inoculates the sterilized mushroom medium 41 filled in the cultivation container 42 with an appropriate amount of the liquid inoculum as the inoculum. In this case, an inoculation device (Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-56565) proposed by the present applicant can be used as a liquid inoculum inoculation device, but various inoculation devices can also be used.
[0035]
As described above, the mushroom production factory can easily and inexpensively reduce the reduced water inoculum supplied from the inoculum factory to the liquid inoculum suitable for inoculation. Therefore, a liquid inoculum capable of shortening the culture period can be used for mushroom cultivation.
[0036]
Next, another embodiment of the water reducing process according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, a decompression pump 29 is attached to the culture tank 10. While maintaining the temperature of the liquid inoculum 13 after the completion of the liquid culture at the optimum temperature for the culture, the air in the culture tank 10 is discharged to the outside by the vacuum pump 29 as the exhaust 39. As a result, water evaporates efficiently from the culture solution, and water is extracted from the culture solution. The liquid inoculum whose water content has been reduced is supplied to the above-described reduction treatment device 30 as a reduced water inoculum via a valve 104. The inoculum reduced in water by the decompression pump may be further supplied to the reduction treatment device 30 after being subjected to water reduction treatment by the filtration device 21 or the like. As described above, this embodiment is characterized in that only water contained in the liquid inoculum is extracted.
[0037]
Next, an embodiment of reusing the culture solution discharged in the water reduction process according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 51 denotes a used culture solution, which is a culture solution obtained by filtering and separating mycelia from the liquid inoculum 13 by the filter 21 (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 5, the used culture solution 51 is configured to be returned to the tank 10 in which the liquid inoculum 13 to be supplied to the filter 21 and subjected to the water reduction treatment is cultured. In this case, liquid culture is continuously performed in the same tank by adding and supplementing sterilized supplemental nutrients 61 as nutrients in the consumed liquid medium. As described above, in the present embodiment, the sterilized culture solution (liquid medium) 51 is returned to its own tank, and sterilized nutrients are added. Is no longer necessary, and contributes to resource saving by reusing the liquid medium.
[0038]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another embodiment of reusing the culture solution discharged in the water reduction process. In this embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, the culture medium separated by filtering the mycelium from the liquid inoculum 13 by the filter 21 is reused. In this embodiment, the used culture medium 51 is separated. Are returned to the culture tanks 10-1. Also in this example, in order to supplement the nutrients in the consumed liquid medium, supplemental nutrients 61 are added and used as a culture solution (liquid medium) of the culture tank. In the present embodiment, the culture solution is reused, so that the cost of producing the inoculum is reduced and the resource is saved. The solution extracted by the drying device 22 can be returned to the culture tank and reused. The other configurations in FIGS. 5 and 6 have already been described, and thus will not be described here.
[0039]
【Example】
Enoki mushroom mycelium is liquid-cultured using a jar fermenter, and 500 g of gel-like hyphae is taken out of the culture broth after completion of the culture using a filter, and the water content of the gel-like hyphae is reduced to 50% and solidified. Was produced. Thereafter, the container was sealed in a sterilized airtight container, and the container was stored in a 5 ° C. environment for 2 days. After storing the inoculum, 5 g of the inoculum was taken out of the airtight container and reduced using 50 cc of sterilized water to produce a reduced liquid inoculum of about 50 cc. A cultivation container having a capacity of 850 cc was filled with 650 g of a medium containing corn cob as a main component, and after sterilization, 25 cc of the reduced liquid inoculum was inoculated. As a result, the culturing process was completed in 20 days as in the case of inoculating a normal liquid inoculum. After that, the mushrooms harvested through the growing process showed no significant difference compared to the mushrooms cultivated using the conventional solid inoculum.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, since the water-reducing treatment for reducing the water content from the cultured liquid inoculum is performed, the volume and weight of the liquid inoculum are reduced, and the transportation cost is greatly reduced. Therefore, the inoculum factory can transport the inoculum obtained by subjecting the liquid inoculum liquid-cultured to water reduction treatment to the mushroom production factory at low cost.
[0041]
Further, according to the present invention, the inoculum subjected to the water reduction treatment can be reduced to the inoculum liquid inoculum by a simple device at low cost. Therefore, each mushroom production plant supplied at low cost from the inoculum factory can easily obtain and use inexpensive reduced liquid inoculum for inoculation without having to provide a liquid inoculum production apparatus. Furthermore, the inoculation of the liquid inoculum as the inoculum can shorten the cultivation period, thereby achieving the unique effect of liquid inoculum inoculation.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a process of a method for producing a liquid inoculum of a mushroom for inoculation according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an apparatus for producing a liquid inoculum for inoculation mushrooms according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an apparatus for reducing water-reducing inoculum into liquid inoculum for inoculation according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the water reducing process according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of reusing a culture solution discharged in a water reduction process according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another configuration example of reusing the culture solution discharged in the water reduction process according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 10-1 ... liquid culture device (liquid culture tank, culture tank)
11 inoculum 12 liquid medium (culture solution)
13 Liquid inoculum 21 Reduced water treatment device (filtration device / filter)
22 Water reduction equipment (drying equipment)
23 Water reduction equipment (shredder)
24 Water reduction equipment (crushing equipment)
29 Pressure reducing pump 30 Reduction treatment device (Liquid seed reduction treatment device, small tank)
31 Sterilized water (sterilized water)
33 reduced liquid inoculum 39 exhaust 40 inoculation device (liquid inoculum inoculation device)
41 Mushroom medium 42 Cultivation container 51 Spent culture solution (spent liquid medium)
61 Supplementary nutrients (nutrients)
101 Airtight hatch 102 Temperature control mechanism 103 Culture control mechanism 104 Valve 105 Pump 210 Sol or gel-like inoculum (reduced water inoculum)
220 solid seed bacteria (reduced water seed bacteria)
230 sheet or granular inoculum (reduced water inoculum)
240 powdery seed (reduced water seed)
301 Airtight hatch 302 Stirring mechanism 304 Valve

Claims

A method of reducing and producing the liquid inoculum obtained by liquid culture into a liquid inoculum for inoculating a culture medium in a cultivation container,
Inoculation characterized by performing a water-reducing treatment to reduce water from the liquid inoculum in the liquid culture area, and reducing the inoculated inoculation area to a liquid inoculum suitable for inoculation. A method for producing a liquid seed fungus for use.

The water reduction treatment of the liquid inoculum in the liquid cultivation site is performed by a filtration device after the sol or gelation treatment of the inoculum, the sol or gelation treatment, the inoculum drying treatment by the drying device, the drying treatment, and the shredding device. The sheet or granulation treatment of the inoculum according to the above, after the sheet or granulation treatment, powdering treatment of the inoculum by a pulverizing device, any one of the treatment selected from the above, characterized in that, 2. The method for producing a liquid inoculum according to claim 1.

The method for producing liquid mushrooms for inoculation mushrooms according to claim 1, wherein the water-reducing treatment of the liquid inoculum in the liquid culture site is performed by depressurizing the liquid culture tank with a vacuum pump.

The liquid inoculum reduction treatment at the inoculation site of the reduced water inoculum is a treatment in which the reduced water inoculum and the sterilized water or a water-based solution are mixed and stirred. The method for producing a liquid inoculum of the mushroom for inoculation according to claim 1.

The method according to claim 1, wherein during the water-reducing treatment of the liquid inoculum, the culture solution discharged by the sol or gelation treatment of the inoculum or the drying treatment of the inoculum is returned to the liquid culture tank so that the culture solution can be reused. Item 3. The method for producing a liquid inoculum according to any one of Items 1 or 2.

A device for reducing and producing the liquid inoculum obtained by liquid culture into a liquid inoculum for inoculating a culture medium in a cultivation container,
A water reduction treatment device that reduces water from the liquid inoculum cultured by the liquid culture device,
An apparatus for producing liquid mushrooms for mushrooms for inoculation, comprising: a reduction processing apparatus for reducing the inoculum reduced in water by the water reduction processing apparatus to a liquid inoculum suitable for inoculation.

The water reducing treatment device is a filtration device for filtering the inoculum from the cultured liquid inoculum, a drying device for drying the filtered inoculum, a shredding device for shredding the dried inoculum into sheets or granules, a sheet or 7. The apparatus for producing a liquid inoculum mushroom for inoculation according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is any one selected from a pulverizing apparatus for pulverizing a granular inoculum into a powder.

The reduction treatment device for reducing to the liquid inoculum is a mixture of the inoculum subjected to the water reduction treatment by the water reduction treatment device and the sterilized water or a solution containing water as a main component, and the mixture is stirred and reduced to a liquid inoculum suitable for inoculation. The apparatus for producing a liquid inoculum according to claim 6, wherein the liquid inoculum is treated.