Mushroom growth enhancers and method for preparing same
AssigneeSpawn Mate, Inc.
InventorR. Barry Holtz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is a process for preparing growth and nutritional enhancement additives for use with mushroom cultivation and products prepared therefrom. The process includes subprocesses for preparing an activator particle containing ingredients which help maximize growth activity in the fungus and a combination particle which includes activator particles and delayed release nutrient material which helps to sustain optimal growth. The particles produced by the process, namely the activator particle, the combination particle and a method for bringing the particles into contact with mushroom mycelia at the optimum time are also included. The invention is intended to maximize efficient, rapid and healthy growth in commercial mushroom strains.
Claims21
A method of preparing a biological activator and nutrient material for use with mushroom cultures, in steps comprising:
- preparing a plurality of activator particles, said activator particles being adapted to induce enzyme synthesis within the cell and said particles being generally spherical in shape and including an inner core of at least one readily assimilable lipid material surrounded by a layer of at least one antioxidant-surfactant, said antioxidant-surfactant being adapted to slow cellular aging by inhibiting free radial formation, and microencapsulated by an outer layer of activated protein said activated protein being easily accessible to nascent mushroom mycelium;
- coagglomerating an amount of the activator particles with a larger amount by weight of a delayed released nutrient material in the presence of a binding agent to form discrete combined particles of relatively small size, said delayed released nutrient material being in the form of particles, approximately one thousand times larger in size than the activator particles, and including a lipid droplet microencapsulated by a layer of partially denatured protein solids, said protein solids being less accessible to said mushroom mycelium such that said mycelium will preferentially attack the activator particles;
- drying the resulting coagglomerated particles;
- and
- contacting said coagglomerated particles with mushroom spawn.
A growth inducing additive for use with mushroom fungus comprising:
- a small radius, approximately spherical activator particle, said activator particle being adapted to induce enzyme synthesis within the cell and having a core of high food value liquid lipids, surrounded by a thin layer of antioxidant-surfactant material, said antioxidant-surfactant material being adapted to reduce cell aging by inhibiting free radical formation, and including mixed tocopherols, which materials are in turn microencapsulated by an exterior layer of activated protein solids, said protein solids having a protein concentration in excess of ninety-two percent by weight and said protein being water soluble, and being readily utilizable by the mushroom mycelium whereby the mycelium will preferentially attack the activator particles as a food source.
A growth inducive additive for use with fungus cultures in combination particles comprising:
- a plurality of activator particles, said activator particles adapted to stimulate immature mushroom mycelium and comprising a lipid core, surrounded by an antioxidant-surfactant layer, said antioxidant-surfactant layer including one or more naturally occuring tocopherols and adapted to retard cellular aging, and which is in turn microencapsulated by an activated protein outer shell, said outer shell being composed primarily of calcium caseinate;
- a plurality of delayed release nutrient particles, comprising a lipid core surrounded by a shell of denatured protein, said delayed release nutrient particles being adapted to provide a long term food source to the mature mycelium;
- and
- a binding agent to hold the delayed released nutrient particles in close proximity with the activator particles, said binding agent comprising a dilute solution of food starch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.