RU2407285C1 - Method to cultivate pearl in freshwater mussels of unio and anodonta kinds - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agriculture.

SUBSTANCE: method includes formation of hole in mussel shell, insertion of nucleus inside mussel, sealing of shell hole and further development of pearl layer on nucleus. Plate is cut in shell valve in close proximity to lock. Nucleus is installed on plate. Using spatula, pallium and body of mussel are removed from lock through produced hole to create a cavity between closing muscles. Then plate is installed back in place so that nucleus is located over produced cavity.

EFFECT: technology will make it possible to reduce death rate of mussels, and also to increase reliability and efficiency of pearl cultivation.

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Description

The invention relates to the production of cultured pearls in freshwater mollusks of the genera Unio and Anodonta, inhabited in rivers and ponds, and can be used to obtain pearls in industrial production.

Modern pearl cultivation is mainly based on three main techniques. Firstly, spherical pearls of all sizes are obtained using the well-known technology of implanting a tissue implant using a core on various types of both sea pearls and freshwater mussels and mollusks. Secondly, hemispherical pearls of 10-22 mm in size are obtained using the so-called “blister” technology, again on pearl mussels (oysters) and freshwater mussels. Thirdly, irregularly shaped pearls, or baroque, are obtained on freshwater mollusks using the process of reusable implantations without using a core.

Currently, for the production of cultured pearls, pearl oysters are used as a mollusk.

However, the global water spaces where pearl mussels can develop are extremely limited, and accordingly, the production and catch of pearl mussels is also limited.

Various methods for producing pearls are known, involving introducing a seed core into the mantle cavity of the mollusk, which is fragments of mollusk flaps (B.V. Zikeev. Processing of non-fish raw water. M., 1950, pp. 212-21), slices of the mollusk mantle (application Japan 59-32088, 1984), asymmetric crystals of carbonates obtained by crystallization of a nutrient medium, which is extrapallic fluid from the mantle layer of the mollusk (US Pat. RF No. 2183401).

Known methods make it possible to obtain cultured pearls, only in appearance resembling natural.

A known method of introducing a seed core for growing pearls in the mantle cavity of the mollusks, comprising opening the valves, piercing the edge tissue of the mantle of the mollusk and introducing the seed core (ed. Certificate. USSR No. 1701214). Moreover, in order to increase the reliability of fixing the seed core and accelerate the process of tissue regeneration, the piercing is carried out with L-shaped sponges, before piercing, the core is placed between the lips, tweezers are inserted when piercing at an angle to the transverse axis of the leaflet, and then the lips are opened and the mollusk tissues are pushed apart with the formation of a L-shaped through hole tunnel to accommodate the core. The tissue under the action of the elastic forces of the muscles of the mollusk tightly fixes the core, preventing its loss. After the operation, during transplantation of the seed core, the hole in the tissue is sealed with glue and the mollusk is returned to the habitat. The disadvantage of this introduction of the kernel is the injury to the mollusk and its subsequent death.

Cultivation of pearls on the abalone of the Galiotis family is known (US Pat. No. 3,871,333). A rounded object, such as a bead that forms the core, is carefully placed on the reproductive organ of the abalone through a perforated hole in the shell in the reproductive organ. Before proceeding to this stage, the abalone is aged in marine conditions for at least two weeks. It is advisable that the kernel was laid in the period from November to February. Immediately after laying the core, the hole in the shell is completely closed with a waterproofing binder or cement, and the treated abalone is grown in a suitable aquarium, after which the abalone produces pearlescent material around the core. Within about 10-12 months, the growth of the pearlescent layer becomes quite thick. The coarse pearl product is then removed from the sink and polished until the final pearl product is obtained. To implement the method, a core is used in the form of a bead of plastic resin, which is attached to a thin needle and laid on a pair of disks (internal with a smaller diameter and external with a large diameter), with which the hole in the sink is closed. Due to the needle, the core is fixed on the sink. After cultivation is completed during the prescribed period, the abalone is removed from the water and the spherical prominence (the core coated with a layer of nacre) is separated from the shell.

The disadvantage of this method is that the resulting pearls were not large and round, but only hemispherical and small, while a large percentage of death of maternal mollusks was observed. The abalone is single-leaf and requires great care and attention than pearl oysters, which are bivalves.

The closest technical solution to the claimed method is a method of culturing pearls, comprising forming a hole in a mollusk shell, introducing a core into the mollusk through the hole obtained, sealing the hole in the shell and forming a pearl layer on the core (US Pat. No. 5,347,951). The core has a predetermined configuration and consists of the first part, around which mother-of-pearl is formed when the core is inserted into the mollusk through the hole. The other part of the core is a cork with a disk, which is firmly connected to the first part and is provided with holding means on the outside of the sink to physically block the hole with a sufficient degree of force. Preferably, the outer surface of the holding means has cuts or an inclined or hyperbolic surface. The disadvantage is the impossibility of cultivating large pearls, the large mortality of mollusks due to rejection of a foreign body, many traumatic operations, insufficient sealing of the shell after the introduction of the seed core. The level of infection is also relatively high, mainly due to tissue injuries.

The purpose of the proposed technical solution is the cultivation of pearls on freshwater mollusks of the genera Unio and Anodonta, the reduction in mortality of mollusks due to the absence of rejection of a foreign body, the reliability and effectiveness of the method of cultivating pearls. These types of mollusks have never been used for growing pearls.

This goal is achieved through the use of the proposed method of cultivating pearls on freshwater mollusks of the genera Unio and Anodonta, which includes forming a hole in the mollusk shell, introducing the core into the mollusk, sealing the shell hole and the subsequent formation of a pearl layer on the core. In this case, in the immediate vicinity of the lock, a plate is cut out in the shell leaf, the core is installed on the plate, the mantle and body of the mollusk are separated from the lock through the hole with a spatula, forming a cavity between the pinch muscles, and then the plate is placed in its original position so that the core was over the resulting cavity.

The method is as follows. Figure 1 and figa presents a view of the mollusk and the plate with the installed core.

Shellfish are sorted by weight, clean the surface of the sink from contamination. Then, in the shell (1) of the mollusk, a plate (7) is usually cut with a diamond drill in the immediate vicinity of the shell lock (2). Through the hole formed with the help of a spatula, the mantle (3) and the body (4) of the mollusk are not injured, they are separated from the lock, forming a cavity between the locking muscles (5) and (6). The core is fixed in the plate (8) and set to its original place on the sink with the help of waterproof glue. The hole and plate are sealed with an underwater epoxy putty or a few drops of super-glue. Begin the formation of a pearl layer.

The viability of a mollusk at the first stage of implantation of a nucleus is evaluated visually by its activity, for example, by the activity of the mantle upon irritation, the integrity of the mantle is also determined visually, for example, by endoscopic methods.

Through the use of the proposed method, mantle tissue is gradually redistributed and gets used to a foreign body, adapts to it. The process of forming a pearl-forming bag from the mantle lasts an average of two weeks, while the mollusk is in an aquarium with fresh water. After the operation of introducing the core into the mollusk is completed, the mollusk is again placed in a conventional underwater cage or farm. The second stage - the formation of the pearlescent layer - lasts for 3-6 months and depends on the size of the mollusk and the size of the core on which the pearlescent layer is formed.

The shell is placed in the habitat for the period of formation of nacre on the surface of the core of the required thickness. The core can be made of various materials: epoxy resin, acrylic, etc. The core can have any configuration.

After the formation of the pearl layer, the shell is removed from the cage and the core is removed. The pearl layer formed on the core follows the shape of the core. The pearl thickness is not less than 0.4 mm.

One of the advantages of the proposed technology is that the entire core can be held inside the sink. Using the inventive method, mortality of mollusks is significantly reduced, and it becomes possible to cultivate pearls on freshwater mollusks of the genera Unio and Anodonta.

Claims (1)

A method of cultivating pearls on freshwater mollusks of the genera Unio and Anodonta, including forming a hole in a mollusk shell, introducing a core into the mollusk, sealing the shell hole and then forming a pearl layer on the core, characterized in that a plate is cut out in the vicinity of the lock in the shell leaf, the core is installed on the plate, the mantle and body of the mollusk are separated from the lock through a hole with a spatula, forming a cavity between the pinch muscles, and then the plate is installed in its original place so that the core is above the resulting cavity.

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