NL9021178A - SUBSTRATE AND METHOD FOR GROWING MUSHROOMS INCLUDING SHIITAKE (LENTINUS EDODES). - Google Patents

Description

EXTRACT

An improved substrate and method for growing fungi, including shiitake. The substrate is essentially free from cellulose and includes a major grain content and minor food supplements. The grain is partially sterilized by cooking to kill bacteria, cooled to induce germination of the heat-resistant spores, and steam sterilized before the sprouted spores are ripe enough to form new spores. The substrate is inoculated with fungi, which are then grown.

Subject: Substrate and method for growing mushrooms including shiitake (Lentinus edodes).

The invention relates to the cultivation of edible mushrooms and other mushrooms, in particular shiitake (Lentinus edodes).

Inventors have long sought a method for growing mushrooms efficiently and quickly, especially shiitake, due to its high demand and relatively low supply.

Shiitake and other mushrooms are normally grown on blocks of wood or on cellulose-based substrates.

Among the methods using a cellulose-based substrate, these are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,127,965 to Mee and U.S. Patent No. 4,637,163 to Pellinen. It also teaches the use of a substrate based on cellulose in a micro-organism impermeable flexible vessel, which is then closed and sterilized. However, as taught by U.S. Patent No. 4,674,228 issued to Murata, removal of the mycelium from such vessels often results in damage that decreases productivity. Other methods have also been tried. Thus, e.g. Weber U.S. Patent No. 4,735,014 the use of hemp stems and Becsy's U.S. Patent No. 4,741,122 the use of agricultural waste.

There are many drawbacks to the various shiitake growing methods currently used.

Growing shiitake on blocks of wood in the traditional way is slow and inefficient. The cultivation of shiitake in microorganisms impermeable flexible vessels (commonly known as air pockets) offers advantages over traditional methods but still does not yield satisfactory production yield.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved method of cultivating mushrooms, especially shiitake.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved culture medium for mushroom cultivation, including shiitake.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a more efficient and faster method of growing mushrooms, including shiitake.

The invention relates to a new mushroom growth substrate, in particular shiitake, which is created using a new sterilization method of the substrate which allows the cultivation of the desired mushrooms without contamination by competitive organisms.

The new substrate consists of grain that is substantially cellulose-free and sterilized in accordance with the method described herein. As indicated above, the prior art in edible mushroom and other mushroom growth requires growth on blocks of wood, sawdust or other substrates containing a significant proportion of cellulose. However, cellulose is not necessary for the cultivation of shiitake. Shiitake mushrooms have the ability to break down cellulose to provide essential nutrients, but can grow more effectively in a substrate that already contains these materials in a usable form. Likewise, shiitake can degrade lignin, which is a wood component, but again shiitake can be grown more efficiently by offering the degradation products instead of lignin.

Prior art literature has taught the use of grain or a dietary supplement in a cellulose-based substrate. See e.g. Han, et al., Physiology and Ecology of Lentinus Edodes (Berk) sing., Mushroom Science XI, Proceedings of the Eleventh International Scientific Congress on the Cultivation of Edible Fungi (1981). However, the substrate of this invention is substantially free of cellulose, and the grain itself is the substrate.

The grain substrate must be sterilized for mushroom cultivation, including shiitake. Unsterilized grain contains various bacteria and micro-organisms that compete with edible fungi and other fungi and therefore lead to reduced production efficiency. Furthermore, conventional heat sterilization techniques, such as steam sterilization, are insufficient to sterilize the grain against all competitive microorganisms. Accordingly, conventional sterilized grain is unsuitable as a substrate. In fact, one prior art reference states that, in view of the well-established use of wood blocks and the energy necessary to sterilize the substrate, that "the widespread consumption of any sterilized substrate is the production of shiitake mushrooms seems unlikely ".

San Antonio, "Cultivation of the Shiitake Mushroom", Hortscience, Vol. 16 (2), April 1981.

The main problem of conventional heat sterilization of grain substrates is that certain bacteria, especially the Bacillus genus, form heat resistant spores that survive such sterilization even when the bacteria themselves are killed. Similarly, even if a grain substrate is conventionally heat sterilized, it will still contain traces of Bacillus bacteria which will contaminate the substrate and make it unsuitable for mushroom production, including shiitake. This invention solves the problem of bacterial contamination in the grain to obtain a suitable sterile substrate.

According to the invention, the substrate is boiled to kill the bacteria that are present. Then the substrate is cooled to encourage all heat-resistant spores to germinate.

The substrate is then steam sterilized after this germination, but before the bacteria have matured enough to re-form heat-resistant spores.

Of course, methods of sterilizing the grain substrate that do not use heat, such as irradiation, can also be used. However, irradiation of the substrate requires greater regulation from the government and can affect the market value of the resulting mushrooms. Other non-heat sterilizing methods may include chemical sterilization (using solid, liquid or gaseous chemical agents for sterilization) or pressure sterilization (in which the substrate is subjected to extremes of high or low pressure (including vacuum ) or both).

Freezing can of course also be used in this invention.

The invention can be practiced with said sterilization methods and any other sterilization methods capable of killing bacteria or other spore-forming microorganisms, but which normally leave surviving spores. As long as the spores are allowed to germinate after an initial sterilization, a second sterilization, which 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 enough to generate new spores. to shape. Therefore, the separate methods of initial and secondary sterilization are not critical, as long as the spores are allowed to germinate after the initial sterilization and the substrate is secondary sterilized before the spores mature enough to form new spores.

The substrate of the invention therefore provides a more efficient medium for the cultivation of edible mushrooms, including shiitake, because the nutrients the mushrooms need are offered directly, rather than being presented in the form of cellulose or lignin, which must first be enzymatically degraded by the mushrooms. The invention also provides a more efficient method of cultivating edible fungi because competitive microorganisms, including bacteria, are eliminated from the substrate.

An advantage of the invention is the reduction of incubation times for shiitake. The invention shortens the incubation time for mycelium formation to 21 days as opposed to woodblock culture, which takes 8 months to 1 year for incubation, and sawdust based substrates, which require approximately 80 days incubation.

Another advantage of the method of the invention is the increase in yield per pound of substrate. 100 pounds of substrate of the invention yields about 300 pounds of shiitake in 5 months. In comparison, 100 pounds of logs provide about 10 to 15 pounds of shiitake over 3 years, and 100 pounds of sawdust gives about 80 pounds of shiitake in 8 months.

Another advantage of the invention is that no special material for fungi is required. The same material used for cultivation can be used as the material for the fungus flocks to start up new production units, so that production can be immediately increased rather than waiting for another new floc to grow. Accordingly, no fungus flocks are wasted as production decreases.

Yet another advantage of the invention is that production units can remain in incubation up to after the 21 day period up to 6 months when, for example, market conditions are unfavorable. This also allows storage of stocks of colonized units during large seasonal production yields.

In practicing the invention, various nutritional supplements (including proteins, sugars, starches and vitamins) are boiled in water until completely dispersed throughout the mixture. The grain for the substrate is then added and boiled for about 1 hour to kill the bacteria present and allow the absorption of the dispersed food supplements into the grain.

The grain is then cooled to initiate the germination of all heat-resistant spores. While the grain cools, it is mixed with permeability enhancing powders to prevent caking and packaged in microorganism impermeable sterilizable vessels, such as polypropylene bags. The bags are then steam sterilized according to conventional practices before the germinated bacteria have grown enough to form spores.

After sterilization of the bags, colonization of the. bags performed by introducing either pure fungus flakes of the desired mushrooms or pre-colonized grain.

The bags are then shaken to mix the fungus or previously colonized grain with the grain to effect a decrease in incubation time. The bags are then incubated for about 3 weeks at about 80 ° F (27 ° C).

During this time, the fungus flakes will digest most, if not all, of the substrate to form a mycelium.

The mycelium can then be induced to yield by subjecting the bags to a cold shock of 40 to 65 ° F (4.5-18 ° C) for 5 to 15 days under cool white fluorescent lighting. After the cold shock, ripening is brought to full maturity by removing the mycelium and then subjecting it to an intermittent cold water mist, or otherwise placing the mycelium in a high humidity environment.

Alternatively, fruiting can be induced by using only a cold water spray under lighted conditions.

Figure 1 is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the method of preparing a substrate according to the invention.

Figure 1 of the drawing shows a generally preferred method of manufacturing the substrate of the invention.

The ingredients of the substrate are preferably chosen to provide optimal nutrition for the mushrooms to grow without the need for additional artificial supplements. This use of all-natural materials facilitates the sale and marketing of the cultivated mushrooms due to less regulatory requirements imposed. The preferred ingredients, their uses, and the optimal amounts are indicated below for preparing batches of substrate.

Ingredient range Optimal quantity

Whole Sorghum millet 150-300 lbs 200

Whole oat grains 0-50 lbs 35

Russet potatoes 5-20 lbs 10

Crushed barley grains 0.5-15 lbs 5

Maple seed suckers 0-15 lbs 5

Brouwers' yeast powder 2-35 lbs 6

Peeled sunflower seeds 0-10 lbs 2

Soybean flour 0-2.5 lbs 1.5

Corn gluten meal 0-2.5 lbs 1.5

Whole garlic 0.5-4 lbs 1.5

Sunflower oil 0-20 tablespoons 10

Wheat germ oil 0-20 tablespoons 10

Molasses 0.20 tablespoons 6

Water 20-35 gallons 25

Milk 0-1 gallon 0.25

The preferred coating ingredients, ranges and optimum for each two batches of the above substrate are listed below:

Limestone powder 25-75 lbs 50

Gypsum powder 100-200 lbs 160

Cotton seed meal 0-60 lbs 40

The maple seed shoots are preferably grown for 6 to 12 days under a mist system. Commercial bean sprouts can also be added, but more roots and larger cotyledons are available with maple seed sprouts.

Sorghum millet provides vitamins, carbohydrates, starch, proteins and minerals, such as copper, iron, manganese, zinc and selenium.

Oats provide vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, starch, proteins and salicylic acid. Salicylic Acid promotes shiitake breathe. Crushed barley grains provide vitamins and carbohydrates and absorb excess water. Soybean meal provides a mineral source, protein source and vitamin source. Brewer's yeast powder provides higher amounts of vitamins, in particular vitamin B and promotes the growth of the mycelium. Sunflower seed and sunflower oil provide vitamins, minerals, proteins and saturated and unsaturated oils. Sunflower seeds and oil also promote heavier secondary mycelium growth.

The seed shoots promote a heavier amount of fruits that are formed. This provides some degree of control over the size of the mushrooms. More shoots allow more mushrooms to be formed, but the mushrooms are smaller in size. Fewer shoots allow fewer mushrooms to form, but the mushrooms are larger in size. When no shoots are added, mushrooms with individual weights from 3/4 to 1 lb. are formed on the substrate.

Garlic provides natural antibacterial action to inhibit bacterial growth after cooking and sterilizing the substrate. Molasses provides sugars, and wheat germ oil provides saturated and unsaturated oils, as does vitamin D. Corn gluten meal provides vitamins, minerals, proteins, and selenium. Potatoes provide starch. Milk gives casein and cheese can be used instead of milk.

The coating ingredients have additional functions in addition to increasing the permeability of the substrate. Limestone powder adjusts the pH of the substrate to neutral (about 7 to 8). The gypsum powder also provides long-term pH maintenance and makes the grain substrate loose and powdery.

The cotton seed meal provides proteins and oil.

It should be noted that the prior art teaches that under certain conditions calcium inhibits mycelium fruiting. However, the substrate of this invention contains significant amounts of calcium from limestone and gypsum powder.

The size and number of mushrooms can be controlled for colonization by the amount of substrate packed in the bags, with larger bags containing more substrate producing larger mushrooms in a higher number.

E.g. produce eight pound bags of 3/4 lb. mushrooms in about 6 months.

Mushroom size and number can also be controlled after colonization by allowing the individual colonized units to contact each other. The individual units will form one large continuous unit which will form larger and larger mushrooms in number than an individual unit.

Fully colonized units can be placed on shelves or on bars to increase production per unit area.

The following example illustrates the use of this invention using the optimal amounts as shown above.

EXAMPLE

Water is boiled in a 60 gallon boiler with a bottom crown. The potatoes are cut into slices and then added to the boiling water along with the milk, garlic, corn gluten meal, wheat germ oil, sunflower oil, molasses, hulled sunflower seeds, brewer's yeast powder and soybean meal.

The mixture is then boiled until all components break up into small particles. The mixture is preferably mixed with a portable paint mixer to ensure that clumps break into small particles. Maple seed suckers are then added to the boiling mixture which is stirred with a large paddle until the suckers are soft. The oat grains, barley grains and sorghum millet are then added along with enough water to submerge the grain.

The mixture is then boiled and stirred until the water level reaches 3 to 4 inches below the grain level and the heat source is then turned off. After about 1 hour, the remaining liquid is drained through the bottom of the pot. At this point, the grain should be half-cooked and half-hard. The grain is then allowed to cool for about 24 hours during which time it is removed from the jar.

Two batches of grain are then placed in a large flat trough and the limestone powder, gypsum powder and cottonseed meal are mixed with the grain until all the grain is coated with powder. The grain should look lined and not stick together in clumps. Two batches will yield about 1200 pounds of the prepared substrate.

The prepared substrate is then packed in double polypropylene plastic bags (1.5 mils). Each of these double bag units has a polypropylene collar, a cotton wad and an aluminum foil liner over the wad. The 4-batch bags of the grain (approximately 2400 pounds) are then placed in a steam retort (5 foot diameter, 13 feet long) and steam sterilized at 250 ° F, 15 pounds per square inch steam pressure for 7 hours. Each batch is then cooled for seeding for 24 hours.

After the bags of substrate have been sterilized, they are preferably sown under sterile conditions in a laminar air flow tent. Sowing is performed by introducing pure tension flakes or, preferably, colonized grain from previous production processes. About 5 to 10 tablespoons of colonized grain are added in each 2-pound bag. Each of the bags is then shaken to mix the colonized grain through the new unit. This thorough mixing of the pre-colonized grain with the substrate significantly reduces the normal incubation time. Thus, a 2-pound bag will generally be fully colonized after about 3 weeks at 80 ° F incubation. Typically, 15 new 2-pound units are started up from each colonized 2-pound unit. The preferred size of the bag is 8 pounds due to the disproportionately large number of sprouts per 8 pound bag compared to 2-pound and 4-pound bags. After about 3 weeks, the grain substrate will be largely or completely digested, leaving only mycelium in the bag.

The bag can be maintained at the mycelial stage for 3 to 4 months before shipping or storage. When mushroom production is desired, the bags containing the mycelium are subjected to a cold shock by cooling them to 40 to 65 ° F for 5 to 15 days under cool white fluorescent light of 25 to 100 lux. The preferred cold shock occurs at a temperature of 45 ° F for 7 to 9 days, although a cold water bath for 24 to 48 hours can also be used.

The bags can be shipped in a refrigerated container during this cold shock stage.

As an alternative to the cold shock method of inducing fruiting, the mycelium can be removed from the bags and exposed to an occasional cold water mist. It is preferred that this misting takes place during hours of daylight and also during a 2 hour period at night.

The water used for the mist is cooled to 50 to 75 ° F and mist occurs for 2 to 120 seconds at 2 to 10 minute intervals for 6 to 15 hours during the daylight period. Shiitate mushrooms can be harvested about 10 to 20 days after the mycelium has been exposed to the mist. Successive harvests from the bags can take place after 20 to 30 days. The relative humidity of the fog environment should be at least 80%.

As an alternative to occasional chilled water mist treatment, the mycelium can be removed from the bags and fruiting allowed to take place by previously known methods.

After the substrate has been used, it can be used for other purposes, such as compost, animal feed, mushroom compost for other mushrooms or insect food.

After formation of the mycelium, but for fruiting, the mycelium can also be used for animal or human nutrition. Useful biochemicals can also be extracted from the mycelium.

While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be understood that certain differences and modifications may occur within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. E.g. and not only by way of limitation, the substrate described herein is suitable for growing many types of mushrooms, including those tabulated in mushroom list 1, which is part of this description and is incorporated herein by reference, and many genera of fungi, including those tabulated in the fungi list 2, which is also part of the description and is incorporated herein by reference. Many of these fungi are useful for their biochemical or other properties. Therefore, the substrate can be used to grow penicillin fungi, whey fungi, yeast and medicinal mushrooms. Accordingly, no restriction can be made except as set out in the claims.

MUSHROOM LIST 1

Scientific name Common name

Agaricus arvensis horse mushroom

Agaricus August The Prince

Agaricus bernardii Agaricus bisporus

Agaricus campestris Common meadow mushroom

Agaricus excellans

Agaricus langei

Agaricus macrosporus

Agaricus silvaticus

Agaricus silvicola Boschampignon

Agaricus vaporarius

Agrocybe aegerita "Brown Swordbelt"

Armillaria Caligata Armillaria ponderosa Armillariella mellea

Armillariella tabescens

Auricularia polytricha "Wood Ear"

Auricularia auricula "Wood Ear"

Calvatia craniiformis Skull-shaped puff fungus

Calvatia gigantea Giant puff fungus

Clitocybe geotrapa ---

Comatus disorder Rough ink mushroom

Dictyphora duplicata Genette stink fungus

Flammulina velutipes Enoki

Galerina mutabilis ---

Ganoderma lucidum Reishi

Grifola frondosa * Hen of the Woods M

Grifola umbellata Zhu Ling

Hericium coralloides Pom Pom

Hericium erinaceus ---

Laetiporus sulphureus Sulfur Polypore

Lentinus edodes Shiitake

Lepiota naucina Smooth Lepiota

Lepiota procera Parasol Mushroom

Lepiota rachodes Scaly Lepiota

Leoista nuda Wood Blewit

Leucopaxillus giganteus ---

Lycoperdon gemmatus Gem-Studded Puffball

Lycoperdon pyriform Pear-Shaped Puffball

Lyophyllum cecastes Honshimeji

Lyophyllum ulmarium

Macrolepiota procera Parasol

Marasmius oreades Fairy Ring

Morchella angusticeos Black morel

Morchella deliciosa

Morchella esculenta white morel

Horchella conica Conical morel

Morchella crassipes Thick-footed morel

Morchella elata Morchella semilibera

Morchella vulgaris Common morel

Panellus serotinus Panus sp.

Pholiota adiposa Pat Pholiota

Pholiota nameko Nameko

Pleurotus columbinus Blue Oyster

Pleurotus comucopiae Canary

Pleurotus cystidiosus Abalone

Pleurotus eryngii ---

Pleurotus flabellatus Pink Oyster

Pleurotus florida Florida Oyster

Pleurotus ostreatus Oyster

Pleurotus pulmonarius ---

Pleurotus sajor-caju Phoenix

Pleurotus salmoned stramineus -

Sparassis crispa Cauliflower

Stropharia rugosoannulata Wine Red Stropharia

Tremella fusciformis White Jelly

Tricholomopsis rutilans

Volvariella bakeril ---

Volvariella bombycina ---

Volvariella volvacea Paddy Straw _%

Fungus list 2

List of Fungus Genera that can be grown on the substrate

Abortiporus Amylostereum

Absidia Anomoporia

Achlya Antrodia

Acremonium Apiotrichum

Acrophialophora Arachnomyces

Acrospeira Armillariella

Actinomucor Arthrinium

Agaricus Arthrobotrys

Agrocybe Arthrographis

Aleurodiscus Ascotricha

Allescheria Ashbya

Altemaria Aspergillus

Alysidium Athelia

Amanita Aureobasidium

Amauroascus Auricularia

Amylomyces

Backusella Boletus

Beauveria Bondarzewia

Bispora Botryodiplodia

Bjerkandera Botryotrichum

Blakeslea Botrytis

Blastomyces Bovista

Boletopsis Byssochlamys

Cadophora Coccospora

Calbovista Cochliobolus

Calcarisporium Colletotrichum

Caldariomyces Collybia

Calocera Columnocystis

Calocybe Conidiobolus

Calonectria Coniella

Calvatia Coniophora

Camarops Coniothyrium

Candida Conoplea

Cantharellus Coprinus

Celphalosporium Cordyceps

Cephaliophora Coridus

Cephaloascus Coriolus

Ceratocystis Corticium

Cercospora Cortinarius

Cerinomyces Coryne

Ceriosporopsis Corynespora

Cerrena Coryneum

Chaetomella Craterellus

Chaetomium Craterellus

Chalara Crebrothecium

Chalaropsis Cryphonectria

Choanephora Cryptococcus

Chondrostereum Cryptoporus

Chroogomphus Cryptosporiopsis

Chrysosporium Cunninghamel-la

Circinella Curvularia

Cladosportium Custingophora

Clavariadelphus Cyanthus

Claviceps Cylindrocarpon

Clavicorona Cylindrocephalum

Clavispora # Cylindrocladium

Clavulina Cystostereum

Clitocybe Cytospora

Clitopilus Cytospora

Dacryrayces Dictyostelium

Dacryopinax Diheterospora

Dactylium Diplocarpon

Daedalea Diplodia

Debaryomyces Discina

Dekkera Discula

Dendryphion Ditiola

Dentinum Doratomyces

Dermaloma Dothistroma

Dichomitus Drechslera

Echinodontium Epicoccum

Elsinoe Eupenicillium

Emericella Eutypa

Emericellopsis Exophiala

Entoloma

Favolus Flammulina

Femsjonia Fomes

Filobasidium. Fomitopsis

Fistulina Fusarium

Flammula Fuscoboletirms

Ganoderma Gnomonia

Geotrichum Gomphidius

Gerlachia Gomphus

Gibberella Grandinia

Gilmaniella Graphium

Gliocladium Grifola

Gliomastrix Guepiniopsis

Gloeophyllum Gymnopilus

Gloeoporus Gyrodon

Gloeosporium Gyromitra

Glomerella Gyroporus

Hanseniaspora Humicola

Hansenula Humicolopsis

Haploporous Hyalodendron

Helicostylum Hydnum

Helminthosporium Hygrophoropsis

Helvella Hygrophorus

Hendersonula Hymenochaete

Hericium Hyphopichia

Heterobasidion Hypomyces

Hirschioporus Hypomyces

Hormodendrum Hypoxylon

Incrustoporia Irpex

Inocybe Isaria

Inonotus Ishnoderma

Kloeckera Kluyveromyces

Laccaria Lenzites

Lactarius Leptosphaerulina

Laetisaria Leucopaxillus

Laurilia Libertella

Leccinum Linderina

Lentinellus Lipomyces

Lentinula Lycoperdon

Lentinus Lyophyllum

Lentodium

Macrophomina Monascus

Mammaria Monilinia

Marasmiellus Monochaetia

Marasmius Monodictus

Melanconium Monosporium

Melanoleuca Mortierella

Memnoniella Mucor

Meruliopsis Myceliophythora

Merulius Mycena

Merulius Mycocentrospora

Metarrhizium Mycosphaerella

Metschnikowia Myriococcum

Micronectriella Myrothecium

Mollisia

Naematoloma Neurospora

Nectria Nodulisporium

Neocosmospora Nomuraea

Odontia Oosporidium

Oedocephalum Ophiostoma

Oidiodendron Osmoporus

Omphalotus Ostenia

Onnia Oudexnansiella

Pachybasium Phylloporus

Pachysolen Physarum

Paecilomyces Phytophthora

Panellus Pichia

Panus Piptoporus

Papularia Piricularia

Papulaspora Pithomyces

Pellicularia Pleurocybella

Penicillium Pleurotus

Peniophora Plicatura

Perenniporia Pluteus

Periconia Podospora

Pestalotia Polyozellus

Pestalotiopsis Polyporus

Peziza Poria

Phaeocoriolellus Potebniamyces

Phaeolus Preussia

Phanerochaete Psathyrella

Phellintis Pseudeurotium

Phialomyces Pseudofusarium

Phialophora Pseudohydnum

Phlebia Pseudospiropes

Phlogiotis Ptychogaster

Pholiota Pulcherricium

Phoma Pycnoporus

Phoma Pyrenochaeta

Phomopsis Pyrenophora

Phycomyces Pythium

Radulodon Rhizopus

Raiaaria Rhodosporidium

Ramaricium Rhodotorula

Resinicium Rigdoporus

Retino cycle Robillarda

Rhinocladiella. Rosellinia

Rhizoctonia Russula

Rhizomucor

Saccharomyces Sphaceloma

Saccharomycopsis Spicaria

Sacodon Spiroidium

Saprolengnia Spondylocladium

Sarcosphaera Spongipellus

Schizophyllum Sporidesmium

Schizosaccharomyces Sporidiobolus

Schwanniomyces Sporobolomyces -Sclerotinia Sporothrix

Sclerotium Sporotrichum

Scolecobasidium Stachybotrys

Scopulariopsis Staurophoma

Scytalidium Steccherinum

Scytinostroma Stemphylium

Sebacina Stereum

Sepedonium Stibella

Septomyxa Strobiloinyces

Septoria Stromatinia

Seroula Suillus

Sirodesmium Syncephalastruro

Sistotrema Syringospora

Sordaria

Talaromyces Tricellua

Taphrina Trichocladium

Termitomyces Trichoderma

Tetracladium Tricholoma

Thamnidium Trichophyton

Thamnostylum Trichosporon

Thanatephorus Trichothecium

Thermoascus Trichurus

Thermomyces Tridentaria

Thielavia Trigonopsis

Thielaviopsis Truncatella

Torulaspora Tuber

Torulopsis Tympanis

Trametes Tyromyces

Tremella

Ulocladium Utilago

Valsa Verticicladiella

Valsaria Verticillium

Vararia Volucrispora

Pack Volutella

Wallemia Whetzelinia

Wardomyces

Xeromphalina Xylobolus

Xylaria Xylogone

Yarrowia Yeasts

Zalerion Zygosaccharomyces

Zygodesmus Zygosporium

Zygorhynchus Zythia

The invention can be used for the inexpensive and efficient cultivation of fungi, in particular shiitate. Other fungi can also be grown, including fungi that are useful for food or medicinal purposes.

Claims (38)

A method of killing Bacillus bacteria spores in a culture medium, comprising: heating the culture medium for about 1 hour to kill the Bacillus bacteria cells; cooling the culture medium for 8 to 24 hours to induce germination of the spores; and killing these sprouted spores by sterilizing the culture medium. A method of preparing a substrate for the cultivation of fungi, comprising: preparing a cereal mixture by mixing water in about one to one quarter weight parts per part dry mixture containing a major grain component and minor starch, protein and food sources ; cooking this cereal mixture for a sufficient time to allow the dispersion of said starch, protein and food sources in the cereal mixture; cooling the grain mixture for a sufficiently long time to allow traces of all heat-resistant bacteria to germinate; and sterilizing the grain mixture before these germinated spores have matured enough to produce more spores. The method as described in claim 2, further comprising: draining grain and water after the cooking step. The method of claim 3, further comprising: mixing a permeability improving additive into the grain mixture. A method according to claim 4, wherein the starch, protein and nutritional supplements are preselected to meet the nutritional requirements of the fungi. A method of preparing a substrad: for growing fungi comprising: boiling about 25 gallons of water in a 60 gallon steam boiler; add about 10 pounds of sliced russet potatoes, 6 pounds of brewer's yeast powder, a quarter pound of milk, 2 pounds of hulled sunflower seeds, 1.5 pounds of soybean meal, 1.5 pounds of whole garlic, 1.5 pounds of corn gluten meal, 10 tablespoons of wheat germ oil, 10 tablespoons of sunflower oil, 5 tablespoons of molasses to form an intermediate mixture; cooking this intermediate mixture using a heat source; mixing this intermediate mixture to break up clumps into small particles; adding about 5 pounds of maple seed suckers; stirring the intermediate mixture until these suckers are soft, adding about 200 pounds of whole sorghum millet, 35 pounds of whole oat grains and 5 pounds of crushed barley grains to form a grain mixture; adding a sufficient amount of water to submerge this grain mixture; cooking and stirring this grain mixture until the water level is about 3 to 4 inches below the grain mixture level; removing the heat source; about an hour after removal of this heat source, draining the grain mixture; about 8 to 24 hours after this draining, mixing the grain mixture with about 25 pounds of limestone powder, 80 pounds of gypsum powder and 20 pounds of cottonseed meal until the grain mixture is fully coated; introducing a measured amount of this grain mixture into sterilizable micro-organism-proof vessels; and steam sterilizing these sterilizable micro-organism-proof vessels. Substrate for growing fungi prepared according to the method of any of the preceding claims. A method of growing wood mushrooms on a substantially cellulose-free medium, comprising: preparing a grain mixture by mixing water in about one to one quarter weight parts per part dry mixture containing mainly grain and in small amounts of starch, protein and food sources; boiling this grain mixture for about 1 hour; cooling this grain mixture for 8 to 24 hours; introducing this grain mixture into a micro-organisms impermeable sterilizable vessel; sterilizing this vessel and this grain mixture; introducing tree mushroom fungus into this grain mixture; shaking this vessel to mix the tree mushroom fungus flakes into the grain mixture; incubating these tree mushroom fungi in this vessel for 21 days to allow the tree mushroom fungi to consume this grain mixture and form mycelium; cooling this vessel and mycelium for 7 to 9 days at a temperature of about 45 ° F; removing mycelium from these containers; occasionally misting this chilled water mycelium until tree mushrooms have grown to the desired size, forming tree mushroom fruit bodies; and harvesting these fruiting bodies. Substrate for the cultivation of fungi, comprising: about 50% sorghum millet; about 26.6% water; about 1% yeast powder; about 1.67% potatoes; about 0.3% garlic; about 0.3% barley grain; about 4.2% limestone powder; and about 16% gypsum powder; wherein this sorghum millet, water, yeast powder, potatoes, garlic and barley cereal is prepared by: cooking for a sufficient time to kill all microorganisms to form an intermediate mixture; cooling this intermediate mixture for a sufficiently long time for the spores to germinate; and heat sterilizing this intermediate mixture before these sprouted spores are sufficiently ripe to form new spores. Substrate according to claim 9, wherein the limestone powder and the gypsum powder are mixed in the intermediate mixture after the cooling. A method of sterilizing a culture medium containing microorganisms capable of sporulation comprising: first sterilizing this culture medium to kill these microorganisms; second, inducing germination of all spores in this sterilized culture medium to form sprouted spores; and third, sterilizing culture medium to kill these sprouted spores before these sprouted spores have matured enough to be able to form further spores. The method of claim 11, wherein said first sterilization step is performed by boiling the culture medium in water for about an hour, the inducing step is performed by cooling culture medium for a time of 8 to 24 hours, and wherein the third sterilization step is performed by steam sterilization of the culture medium at about 250 ° F for about 7 hours. A method of growing tree mushrooms on a substantially cellulose-free medium, comprising: preparing a grain mixture by water in about one to one quarter weight parts per part dry mixture containing a major grain component and minor starch, protein and food source components; boiling this grain mixture for about 1 hour; cooling this grain mixture for about 8 to 24 hours; introducing this grain mixture into a micro-organism-proof sterilizable vessel; sterilizing this vessel and the grain mixture; introducing tree mushroom fungus flakes into this grain mixture; shaking this vessel to mix the tree mushroom fungi with the grain mixture; incubating the tree mushroom fungi in this vessel for about 21 days allowing these tree mushroom fungi to consume the grain mixture and form mycelium? inducing this mycelium to fruiting to form tree mushroom fruit bodies; and harvesting the fruiting bodies. The method of growing tree mushrooms according to claim 13, further comprising: mixing a permeability improving additive into this grain mixture during the cooling step. A method of growing tree mushrooms according to claim 13, wherein: the grain comprises: sorghum millet. The method of growing tree mushrooms according to claim 13, wherein the protein comprises maple seed shoots. The method of growing tree mushrooms according to claim 1.3, wherein: the sterilizing step is performed by steam sterilizing this vessel and the grain mixture at a temperature of about 250 ° F and a pressure of about 15 pounds per square inch, for about 17 hour. The method of cultivating tree mushrooms according to claim 13, wherein the tree mushroom fungus flakes comprise: grain previously colonized with tree mushroom fungus flakes. The method of growing tree mushrooms according to claim 13, wherein: the induction step is performed by removing the mycelium from the containers and exposing the mycelium to an occasional cold water mist. The method of growing tree mushrooms according to claim 13, wherein the occasional cold water mist operation is performed using water cooled to 50 to 75 ° F for 2 to 120 seconds for 2 to 10 minute intervals for 6 to 15 hours during daylight hours and 2 hours at night. The method of growing tree mushrooms according to claim 13, wherein: the starch, protein and food sources are preselected to meet the nutritional requirements of the mushrooms. The method of growing tree mushrooms according to claim 13, wherein further whole garlic is added to the grain mixture before the cooking step. The method of growing tree mushrooms according to claim 13, wherein: the tree mushroom fungi are shiitake mushroom fungi. The method of growing tree mushrooms according to claim 13, wherein: the tree mushroom fungi are oyster mushroom flakes. The method of growing tree mushrooms according to claim 13, wherein the tree mushroom fungi are morel mushroom fungi. 26. A method of growing mushrooms comprising boiling between 25 and 35 gallons of water; adding 5 to 20 pounds of Russet potatoes, between 2 and 35 pounds of brewer's yeast powder and between 1/2 and 4 pounds of garlic to form an intermediate mixture; cooking this intermediate mixture using a heat source; mixing the intermediate mixture to break up clumps into small pieces; add between 150 and 300 pounds of whole sorghum millet and between 1/2 and 15 pounds of crushed barley grain to form a grain mixture; adding a sufficient amount of water to immerse the grain mixture; cooking and stirring the grain mixture until the water level falls below that of the grain mixture; removing the heat source; about 1 hour after removing the heat source, remove the grain mixture; about 8 to 20 hours after this removal step, mix the grain mixture with between 12 and 37 pounds of limestone powder and 50 to 100 pounds of gypsum powder until the grain mixture is fully coated; introducing a measured amount of this grain mixture into sterilizable micro-organism impermeable containers; sterilizing the sterilizable micro-organism impermeable containers and the grain mixture; introducing mushroom fungus into this grain mixture; mixing these mushroom agarics into the grain mixture; incubating the mushroom fungus in this container for 21 days allowing the mushroom fungus to consume the grain mixture and form a mycelium; and inducing the mycelium to fruiting. The method of growing mushrooms according to claim 26, wherein mushroom fungus flakes are shiitake mushroom fungus flakes. The mushroom cultivation method of claim 26, wherein the mushroom fungus flakes are oyster fungus flakes. A method of growing mushrooms according to claim 26, wherein the mushroom fungus flakes are button mushroom fungus flakes. The mushroom cultivation method of claim 26, wherein said mushroom fungus flakes are paddy straw mushroom fungus flakes. The mushroom cultivation method of claim 26, wherein the mushroom fungus flakes are enoki mushroom fungus flakes. A mushroom grown according to the method of any one of claims 8, 13 or 31. 33. A method of sterilizing material-containing spore-forming microorganisms comprising initially sterilizing this material in which microorganisms form surviving spores and kill the microorganisms; allowing these spores to germinate; and re-sterilizing the material before these sprouted spores are sufficiently ripe to be able to form new spores, killing these sprouted spores. The method of claim 33, wherein said microorganisms comprise bacteria. The method of claim 34, wherein the material comprises a grain substrate. The method of claim 33, wherein the initial sterilization step is selected from the group consisting of heating, cooling, steam sterilizing, chemical sterilizing, pressure sterilizing and irradiating. The method of claim 33, wherein the second sterilization step is selected from the group consisting of heating, cooling, steam sterilizing, chemical sterilizing, pressure sterilizing and irradiating. The method of growing tree mushrooms according to claim 13, wherein the protein comprises bean sprouts.