NZ538022A

NZ538022A - A method of culturing pearls stimulated by nacre-originating proteins

Info

Publication number: NZ538022A
Application number: NZ538022A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Robert Wan
Original assignee: Robert Wan Holding
Priority date: 2002-08-12
Filing date: 2003-07-10
Publication date: 2007-02-23
Also published as: AU2003284974B2; WO2004016078A1; FR2843277B1; FR2843277A1; AU2003284974A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a pearl culture method employing a recipient pearl-producing mollusc with a gonad. The inventive method consists in introducing a nucleus and a stimulant solution containing proteins and associated molecules of mother-of-pearl origin into the gonad of the pearl-producing mollusc.

Description

New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number 538022 538022 A METHOD OF CULTURING PEARLS STIMULATED BY NACRE-ORIGINATING PROTEINS The present invention relates to a method of culturing pearls.

It is known that a nacre-producing receiver mollusk is used to culture pearls, said mollusk generally being a receiver oyster having a gonad pouch into which a nucleus is introduced. During initial grafting, i.e. when the receiver oyster receives a nucleus for the first time, a 10 graft is also added in the form of a small piece of mantle from a donor oyster. During subsequent grafting, i.e. when the receiver oyster has already produced a first pearl, a second nucleus is introduced into the gonad pouch of the receiver oyster, and generally it is 15 not necessary to insert another graft.

Whether during initial grafting or subsequent grafting, in general no significant deposit of nacre is obtained until a little more than one year has elapsed since the nucleus was introduced, and in order to obtain 20 a quality pearl it is generally necessary to wait at least two years.

An object of the invention is to provide a method making it possible to accelerate the formation of the deposit of nacre on the nucleus and to improve its 25 quality, or to at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

The invention provides a method of culturing pearls by using a nacre-producing receiver mollusk having a gonad pouch, the method comprising a step of introducing 30 a nucleus into the gonad pouch of the nacre-producing mollusk, said method being wherein it further comprises the step of introducing a stimulating solution of associated nacre-originating proteins and molecules into the gonad pouch.

By adding this step to the traditional grafting method, whether during initial grafting or subsequent grafting, it is found that formation of the nacre deposit Intellectual Property Office of N.2.

H DEC 2006 (Followed by page la) la accelerates substantially in so far as a significant deposit of nacre is obtained only a few months after the nucleus is introduced into the gonad pouch of the receiver oyster.

In order to implement the method of the invention, it is appropriate to begin by preparing the stimulating 2 solution containing the associated nacre-originating proteins and molecules. When culturing pearls using an oyster, firstly a plate of nacre is obtained by sanding off the outer layers of an oyster shell until the 5 iridescent color of the nacre appears. Then, plates of descaled nacre are reduced to powder, for example, by sawing and grinding said plates of nacre, and it is preferable to select the powder fraction that has a grain size of less than 50 Jim. The resulting nacre powder is 10 put into contact with ultra-pure or pyrogen-free water by soaking the powder in ultra-pure water, at a concentration in the range of 25 grams (g) to 100 g of powder per 100 milliliters (mL) of water, depending on the grain size of the powder, the mixture being stirred 15 continuously for about twenty hours. The resulting mixture is centrifuged and then filtered in order to separate the solid portion from the liquid portion and retain only the liquid portion which makes up the stimulating solution containing the associated proteins 20 and molecules.

The method of the invention can then be implemented in different ways. In a preferred first implementation, the nucleus is soaked in the stimulating solution prior to being introduced into the gonad pouch of the pearl-25 producing oyster.

In a second implementation that can be performed during initial grafting, the graft is soaked in the stimulating solution prior to being introduced into the gonad pouch. In this case, it is observed that it is 30 also possible to soak both the nucleus and the graft in the stimulating solution before they are introduced into the gonad pouch.

In a third implementation, the stimulating solution is injected into the gonad pouch before or after the 35 nucleus is introduced. As in the second implementation, the stimulating solution can be injected while 3 simultaneously coating the nucleus and/or the graft with the stimulating solution.

In another aspect of the invention, the stimulating solution is also used in order to vary the color of the 5 pearl obtained. It can be seen that in the implementation of the method described above for obtaining the stimulating solution the entire plate of nacre of an oyster is used to produce the nacre powder from which the associated proteins and molecules are 10 extracted. This means that proteins are extracted not only from the white portion of the nacre but also from the colored portion, which is representative of the genus and of the species of the oyster from which the nacre is extracted.

In order to obtain pearls of different colors from a single donor oyster, or, more generally, from a single nacre-producing mollusk, it is possible to prepare the stimulating solution from nacre of a pre-selected color, either by using a particular zone of the shell, or by 20 using nacre coming from an oyster that is a different color from that of the receiving oyster.

By way of example, a stimulating solution prepared from an oyster of the Pinctada genus, Margaritifera species albinos variant, used with a receiver oyster of 25 the Pinctada genus, normal Margaritifera species serves to obtain a pearl presenting a very soft silver grey orient with pastel-colored reflections of dapple grey type.

Likewise, with a stimulating solution prepared from 3 0 the nacre of an oyster of the Pinctada genus Maculata species and used in conjunction with a receiver oyster of the Pinctada genus, normal Margaritifera species, the pearl obtained is a golden pearl with dark reflections having a very iridescent orient.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the implementations described and it is possible to vary

Claims

4 implementation without departing from the ambit of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, although the implementations described refer to using the stimulating solution 5 directly, it is possible to keep the stimulating solution in a lyophilized form. In which case, it is possible to use the concentrated stimulating solution when the lyophilisate is rehydrated. In particular, for soaking the nucleus or the graft, a solution is used that is 10 obtained by diluting 50 milligrams (mg) to 150 mg of lypophilisate, and preferably 100 mg, in 50 mL of water, whereas for injection purposes, the same quantities of lyophilisate are diluted in only 20 mL of water. Likewise, when seeking pearls of varied colors, 15 although the invention is described with reference to a dark-colored receiver oyster and stimulating solutions obtained from light-colored oysters, it is possible to interchange these colors, for example, by using a stimulating solution extracted from an oyster of the 2 0 Pinctada genus, Margaritifera species introduced into the gonad pouch of an oyster of the Pinctada genus, normal Fucata species. It is also possible to use oysters of a different genus or species from those stated, for example, an oyster of the Pinctada genus, Maxima species. 25 By so doing, light-colored pearls are obtained that may present differing golden or silvery hues. Although the description refers more specifically to culturing pearls in oysters, it is also possible to envisage culturing pearls using other nacre-producing 30 mollusks such as abalones. 5 CLAIMS

1. A method of culturing pearls by using a nacre-producing receiver mollusk having a gonad pouch, the method comprising a step of introducing a nucleus into 5 the gonad pouch of the nacre-producing mollusk, said method being wherein it further comprises the step of introducing a stimulating solution of associated nacre-originating proteins and molecules into the gonad pouch. 10

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the stimulating solution is introduced into the gonad pouch by the nucleus being soaked in said stimulating solution prior to being introduced into the gonad pouch. 15

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein it further comprises the step of introducing a graft into the gonad pouch, and in that the stimulating solution is introduced into the gonad pouch by the graft being soaked in said stimulating solution prior to being introduced 20 into the gonad pouch.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the stimulating solution is injected into the gonad pouch. 25

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the stimulating solution is obtained by reducing the nacre to powder on the basis of a grain size of less than 50 pm, and by putting the resulting powder into contact with ultra-pure water at a concentration in the 30 range of 25 g to 100 g of powder per 100 mL of water, followed by extraction of the aqueous phase.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the aqueous phase is lyophilized, and wherein a stimulating solution 35 is reconstituted by mixing 50 mg to 150 mg in 20 mL to 50 mL of sterile water, depending on the method used to implement the stimulating solution. Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. ' 1 DEC 2006 6

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the stimulating solution is reconstituted by mixing 100 mg in 20 mL to 50 mL of sterile water. 5

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the stimulating solution is prepared from nacre having a pre-selected color. 10

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the stimulating solution is extracted from the nacre of an oyster of the Pinctada genus, Margaritifera albinos species, and the receiver nacre-producing mollusk is an oyster of the Pinctada genus, normal Margaritifera species. 15

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the stimulating solution is extracted from the nacre of an oyster of the Pinctada genus, normal Maculata species, and the receiver mollusk is an oyster of the Pinctada 20 genus, normal Margaritifera species.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the stimulating solution is extracted from the nacre of an oyster of the Pinctada genus, normal Margaritifera 25 species, and the receiver nacre-producing mollusk is an oyster of the Pinctada genus, normal Fucata species.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein the stimulating solution is extracted from the nacre of an 30 oyster of the Pinctada genus, Maculata species or Margaritifera species and the nacre-producing receiver mollusk is an oyster of the Pinctada genus, Maxima species. 35

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein the stimulating solution is extracted from the nacre of an oyster of the Pinctada genus, Maxima species, and the Intellectual Property Office of N.2. 11 DEC 2006 7 nacre-producing receiver mollusk is an oyster of the Pinctada genus, Margaritifera species.

14. A pearl whenever produced by the method according to 5 any one of claims 1 to 13. ROBERT WAN HOLDING 53 8 0 ^ \ 8 \ ABSTRACT A METHOD OF CULTURING PEARLS STIMULATED BY NACRE-ORIGINATING PROTEINS 5 \ A method of culturing pearls is implemented by using a nacre-producing receiver mollusk having a gonad pouch, the method comprising Yhe steps of introducing a nucleus and a stimulating solution of associated nacre-10 originating proteins and Volecules into the gonad pouch of the nacre-producing mollusk. 15 20 25 30 Translation of the title and the abstract as they were when originally filed by the 35 Applicant. No account has been taken of any changes that may have been made subsequently by the PCT Authorities acting ex officio, e.g. under PCT Rules 37.2, 33.2, and/or 48.3.