USE OF ENCAPSULATED ORGANIC COMPOUNDS AS BIOSTIMULANTS FOR MYCELIA AND FUNGI

Abstract

USE OF ENCAPSULATED ORGANIC COMPOUNDS AS BIOSTIMULANTS FOR MYCELIA AND FUNGI. The present invention relates to the use of particular encapsulated organic compounds as biostimulants in mycelium production and mushroom cultivation. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of at least one organic compound selected from beta-pinene, delta-3-carene, or beta-phellandrene, or a mixture thereof, encapsulated with an inert solid and a fat, for stimulating the development and growth of mycelia and improving the yields of edible mushroom crops.

Description

Title of the invention: USE OF ENCAPSULATED ORGANIC COMPOUNDS AS BIOSTIMULANTS FOR MYCELIA AND FUNGI

[0001] The present invention relates to the use of specific organic compounds as biostimulants in mycelium production and mushroom cultivation. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of specific organic compounds encapsulated in a particular manner to stimulate the development and growth of mycelia and improve the yields of edible mushroom crops.

[0002] Edible mushrooms have been used by humans since time immemorial, particularly for their nutritional value and medicinal properties. Many varieties of mushrooms exist, but the most widely cultivated worldwide are the button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus eryngii, etc.), and shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes). The button mushroom alone accounts for more than 40% of the global market, oyster mushrooms 25%, and shiitake 15%. The main players in the global market are China, with 50% of production, followed by the United States and Europe.

[0003] On an industrial scale, the method of mushroom production can be broken down into two stages: the first concerns obtaining inoculum, or mycelia, and the second concerns the actual cultivation of the mushrooms from the mycelia obtained in the first stage. These two stages can be carried out independently by different actors—the first by a mycelium producer, the second by a mushroom grower—or by a single actor, the mushroom grower.

[0004] Obtaining inoculum, or mycelia, begins by inoculating a sterilized culture medium with spores or a piece of inoculum. The culture medium can be agar, such as potato dextrose agar (PDA), a liquid medium such as potato dextrose broth (PDB), or any other nutrient solution, with or without a gelling agent. The development and growth of the mycelium on its culture medium is variable but generally ranges from 7 to 28 days, depending on the fungal strain. Once the mycelium has completely colonized the culture medium, a piece of the culture medium is then taken for inoculation of a colonization substrate. A suitable colonization substrate can be synthetic, or more often composed of cereals, generally rye, millet, sorghum, wheat, barley, rice or oats, previously sterilized and packaged in jars or micro-perforated culture bags.

[0005] The mycelium inoculum thus obtained is then used in the cultivation and production of mushrooms. The inoculum is therefore used to inoculate a fruiting substrate.

[0006] In the case of the button mushroom, the fruiting substrate is a compost generally composed of straw and animal manure, watered thoroughly to ensure its maturation over two to three weeks. The fruiting substrate is then pasteurized for a few days with decreasing temperatures from 60 to 40°C. Inoculation of the fruiting substrate is carried out after pasteurization, for example using a inoculating machine, by mixing the inoculum contained in its colonization substrate with the fruiting substrate. This is followed by an incubation period during which the inoculated fruiting substrates are placed in an enclosed room where the temperature, humidity, and oxygen are controlled for two weeks. The temperature is maintained at 22 to 25°C. The subsequent step is casing, which consists of covering the fruiting substrate with a suitable layer of soil.The casing soil is, for example, a mixture of crushed and disinfected tuffeau limestone and horticultural peat. After a controlled drop in temperature, the first mushroom heads emerge from the fruiting substrate, and harvesting can then begin. The harvesting of button mushrooms follows several fruiting cycles called flushes, or alternating periods of harvesting and dormancy. The first two flushes are by far the most productive, with 50% of the total harvest attributed to the first flush and 35% to the second. The harvest cycle is renewed approximately every week. Harvesting can continue up to a third flush, but yields decline rapidly. Generally, mushroom growers aim to produce only two flushes for reasons of productivity but also hygiene, as the third flush is often an entry point for the development of diseases and their long-term establishment.

[0007] These methods of obtaining inoculum and producing mushrooms thus extend over several weeks, particularly due to the time required for the different mycelium strains to colonize their substrates. Furthermore, mycelial development and growth can be disrupted by various factors, such as variations in culture conditions and colonization capacity. Growth rates and the quality of mycelial development can therefore become a limiting factor, lengthening inoculum production times for growers and negatively impacting mushroom harvest yields for mushroom farmers. Thus, the entire mushroom production chain can be directly affected by the quality of the mycelium used.

[0008] The use of biostimulants in agricultural production methods is rapidly developing. Biostimulants are substances capable of stimulating the metabolism of a plant, or a fungus, and its natural nutrient absorption processes. More specifically, Regulation (EU) 2019 / 1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019, which entered into force on 22 July 2022, defines a biostimulant as "a product which stimulates plant nutrition processes independently of the nutrients it contains, with the aim of improving one or more of the following characteristics of plants or their rhizosphere:

[0009] a) nutrient utilization efficiency

[0010] b) tolerance to abiotic stress

[0011] c) qualitative characteristics

[0012] d) the availability of nutrients confined in the soil or rhizosphere »

[0013] The aim of the present invention is therefore to identify and propose biostimulants effective in methods for producing mycelium inoculum and in methods for cultivating mushrooms from mycelium inoculum. In particular, the biostimulants according to the invention should shorten the production time of mycelium inoculum and improve mushroom cultivation yields or, at the very least, prevent these production times from being extended and yields from being lost. Finally, the biostimulants according to the invention should be usable in conventional methods of inoculum production and mushroom production.

[0014] It is for this purpose that the applicant company carried out its research and discovered that certain organic compounds, chosen from beta-pinene, delta-3-carene or beta-phellandrene, or one of their mixtures, exhibited surprising biostimulation capabilities on the development and growth of mycelia and fungi, particularly when added to their culture media or substrates, and could therefore be used in processes and methods for obtaining inoculum or cultivating fungi.

[0015] The use of natural biostimulants is a true innovation for mushroom production. The use of products with a biostimulant effect has a major impact on the production of mycelium and mushrooms. The main limitation for inoculum producers lies in their ability to quickly produce, store, and distribute their mycelium to mushroom growers. The use of biostimulants according to the invention reduces the time between the start of production and distribution, thus increasing the producers' production capacity. Similarly, during the mushroom production phase, the use of pre-biostimulated mycelium and the addition of biostimulants to the growing substrate improves yields and increases mushroom growers' production without negatively impacting the crop. The addition of biostimulants can thus can be carried out at the inoculation of the bags of substrate or during the different phases of compost incubation, more particularly at the time of adding supplements (nutrient supplements).

[0016] Thus, during tests carried out on composts, the mycelia stimulated by the organic compounds selected according to the invention, an increase in crop yield, an increase in the average mass per mushroom and, in general, an improvement in the quality of the harvested mushrooms could be observed and measured.

[0017] The organic compounds selected within the framework of the invention have the particularity of exhibiting a strong biostimulant effect, over a sufficiently wide range of concentrations for producers.

[0018] However, when applied in their natural form in mycelium culture bags, excessive stimulation, localized hyperstimulation phenomena, or temporary inhibition zones at the points of contact have been observed. In this form, the active substances are released immediately and completely, and the mycelium develops impressively but often heterogeneously, which mycelium producers want to avoid and which can create homogeneity problems in mushroom culture.

[0019] To solve this problem, the applicant company selected and improved a specific encapsulation technique adapted to the physicochemical characteristics of the selected organic compounds. This encapsulation technique preserves all the biostimulating properties of the organic compounds, while releasing their active ingredients gradually over time, under controlled conditions suitable for both mycelium production and mushroom cultivation.

[0020] Thus, the present invention relates to the use of at least one organic compound selected from beta-pinene, delta-3-carene or beta-phellandrene, or a mixture thereof, in encapsulated form, to stimulate the development and growth of a mycelium or a fungus.

[0021] Encapsulating the selected organic compounds increases the supply of biostimulant substances without detrimental effects on the mycelium and its development. Compared to mycelium untreated with the encapsulated organic compound(s) according to the invention, the growth rate of the biostimulated mycelium is higher, its development is more homogeneous, and its behavior is more predictive. The encapsulated form also prevents localized excesses of biostimulation that lead to heterogeneous colonization of the substrate bags. A single application is sufficient for inoculation to provide effective, homogeneous, and complete action on the colonization substrate. The use of the encapsulated biostimulants according to the invention thus makes it possible to Reducing the time between the start of production and distribution will increase the production capacity of mycelium producers. The main limitation for inoculum producers lies in their ability to quickly produce, store, and distribute quality mycelium to composters and mushroom growers.

[0022] Furthermore, the addition of selected encapsulated organic compounds improves mushroom crop yields, particularly when the compost (fruiting substrate) is directly inoculated with biostimulated mycelium. This yield increase is even more pronounced when supplements (nutrient supplements) are added to the compost. Indeed, the application of encapsulated biostimulants allows the mycelium to sustainably improve its efficiency in utilizing these nutrients.

[0023] Furthermore, during mushroom cultivation, the addition of the encapsulated organic compounds according to the invention increases the yields of the first flushes and improves the quality and average mass of the harvested mushrooms. The effects on the mushroom cultivation sector are therefore accompanied by economic and practical benefits for producers at each stage:

[0024] - Energy savings related to earlier marketing and a shorter time to Reduced storage for mycelium producers

[0025] - Reduction of labor time for mushroom pickers during harvesting,

[0026] - Application easily adaptable to all production methods and combinable with supplements (nutritional supplements) and treatment products.

[0027] According to the invention, the selected organic compounds are adsorbed, absorbed onto a support or encapsulated in a support and coated with fat which acts as a coating.

[0028] The invention thus also relates to microcapsules comprising:

[0029] - a nucleus comprising at least one organic compound selected from beta-pinene, delta-3-carene or beta-phellandrene, or one of their combinations, a solid support, said organic compound(s) being adsorbed, absorbed onto said solid support or encapsulated therein, and,

[0030] - at least one coating layer made of vegetable fat, said layer encasing said kernel.

[0031] The selected organic compounds are interchangeable, for example in the event of a shortage of one of them.

[0032] The selected organic compounds can also be combined in order to obtain in certain cases synergistic effects and enhanced resilience.

[0033] The selected organic compounds also allow their effects on the growth of mycelia and fungi to be produced under less favorable conditions than normal conditions, such as a drop in incubation temperature of 1 or 2°C or an aging effect.

[0034] Thus, it is the combination of carefully selected organic compounds and the form in which they are distributed that makes it possible to achieve the objectives of the invention.

[0035] All combinations of encapsulated organic compounds are possible, such as beta-pinene and delta-3-carene or beta-pinene and beta-phellandrene, or delta-3-carene and beta-phellandrene, or beta-pinene and delta-3-carene and beta-phellandrene.

[0036] However, according to a preferred embodiment, the encapsulated organic compound is beta-pinene.

[0037] The organic compounds used in the context of the invention are advantageously and preferably in the form of liquid extracts comprising at least 90%, at least 92%, and preferably at least 95% of said organic compound(s). The organic compounds selected according to the invention are terpenes generally extracted from essential oils. Such extracts are commercially available.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the invention, the mycelium or the fungus is chosen from among the basidiomycetes, in particular the button mushroom, the oyster mushrooms and the shiitake, more particularly Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus eryngii and Lentinula edodes.

[0039] When the mycelium or the fungus is Agaricus bisporus, the organic compound used is preferably beta-pinene, delta-3-carene or beta-phellandrene.

[0040] When the mycelium or the fungus is Pleurotus ostretaus, the organic compound used is preferably beta-pinene, delta-3-carene or beta-phellandrene.

[0041] When the mycelium or the fungus is Pleurotus eryngii, the organic compound used is preferably beta-pinene or beta-phellandrene.

[0042] When the mycelium or fungus is Lentinula edodes, the organic compound used is preferably beta-pinene.

[0043] According to one embodiment of the invention, the solid support is a spheroidal granule.

[0044] Preferably, the solid support is an inert solid material, a material composed of silica or a material composed of silicon dioxide.

[0045] According to one embodiment of the invention, the vegetable fat is composed of fatty acids or lipids, preferably of one or more vegetable oils.

[0046] The manufacture of the microcapsules according to the invention can be carried out according to methods known to a person skilled in the art.

[0047] By way of example, the microcapsules are manufactured as follows:

[0048] - loading solid support into a homogenizer,

[0049] - addition, at low temperature, of the selected organic compound(s) according the invention on the solid support,

[0050] - addition of vegetable fat,

[0051] - sieving at 1 mm, to obtain a particle size of less than 1 mm,

[0052] - conditioning.

[0053] The invention further relates to a composition comprising at least one microcapsule as described above.

[0054] Preferably, the composition is in powder form. More preferably, the composition comprises only the microcapsules according to the invention.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the composition comprises at least 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50% of at least one of said organic compounds, by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.

[0056] According to a preferred embodiment, the composition is composed of 50% of at least one organic compound selected from beta-pinene, delta-3-carene or beta-phellandrene, or a mixture thereof, 35% of a support, preferably a silica or silicon dioxide support, and 15% of a fat coating.

[0057] The invention further relates to the use of at least one microcapsule as described above, or a composition containing it, for the stimulation of the development and growth of a mycelium or a fungus.

[0058] The organic compounds selected and encapsulated within the framework of the invention can be used simply and effectively in the classic methods of inoculum production and mushroom production, without the need to complicate these methods.

[0059] Thus, the invention also relates to a method for obtaining an inoculum, of mycelium, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

[0060] Thus, the invention also relates to a method for obtaining an inoculum, of mycelium, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

[0061] - preparation of a colonization substrate,

[0062] - addition to the colonization substrate of at least one microcapsule as described previously, or a composition including,

[0063] - inoculation of the colonization substrate by a mycelium,

[0064] - obtaining an inoculum, of mycelium

[0065] - conditioning of the inoculum.

[0066] Preferably in the method according to the invention, the encapsulated organic compound(s) are added to the colonization substrate, or compost, so that the concentration of the organic compound(s) is between 20 and 400 pL / L of colonization substrate. As an example, this corresponds to approximately 0.5 to 10 g of microcapsules per 15-litre culture bag.

[0067] The method according to the invention makes it possible to shorten by several days the time required to obtain marketable inocula, or mycelia, for producers, compared to a conventional method. Growth can be stimulated and increased by more than 20%, or even more than 40%, compared to the growth obtained with a conventional method, that is, without the use of the organic compounds selected and encapsulated within the framework of the invention. The stimulation of mycelial growth can be observed by its behavior and the homogeneity of its development on the surface of the culture bags.

[0068] According to one embodiment of the invention, in this method, the mycelium or the fungus is chosen from among the basidiomycetes, in particular the button mushroom, the oyster mushrooms and the shiitake, more particularly Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus eryngii and Lentinula edodes.

[0069] According to a preferred embodiment, in this method the organic compound is beta-pinene, in particular when the mycelium or fungus is Agaricus bisporus.

[0070] The invention further relates to a method for cultivating fungi from an inoculum, of mycelium, which is characterized in that it comprises the following steps

[0071] - preparation of a fruiting substrate,

[0072] - possibly, incorporation into the fruiting substrate of at least one mi crocapsule as described above, or of a composition comprising,

[0073] - inoculation of the fruiting substrate with a mycelium inoculum obtained by a method according to the invention and described above,

[0074] - possibly, incorporation, in the fruiting substrate, of supplements or mixtures of nutrients specific to mushroom cultivation,

[0075] - incubation, possibly with incorporation into the fruiting substrate of less a microcapsule according to one of the preceding claims, or a composition comprising,

[0076] - fruiting,

[0077] - harvest.

[0078] According to one embodiment of the invention, the quantity of microcapsules added to the fruiting substrate is 20 to 30 g per 90 kg of compost or fruiting substrate. In this embodiment, the concentration of the organic compound(s) is between 11.5 and 17.2 mL per 90 kg of fruiting substrate.

[0079] According to one embodiment of the invention, in this method, the mycelium or fungus is chosen from among the basidiomycetes, in particular the button mushroom, oyster mushrooms and shiitake, more specifically Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus eryngii and Lentinula edodes.

[0080] According to a preferred embodiment, in this method the organic compound is beta-pinene, particularly when the mycelium or fungus is Agaricus bisporus.

[0081] The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will become clearer upon reading the following description of exemplary embodiments

[0082] Example 1: Evaluation of the impact of a composition according to the invention on the crop yields of Agaricus bisporus

[0083] 1.1 Preparation of the composition according to the invention

[0084] The composition is formulated from the following elements:

[0085] Organic compound: beta-pinene (CAS No. 127-91-3) most often separated from turpentine oil by fractional distillation (beta-pinene content >95%).

[0086] Solid support: silicon dioxide.

[0087] Vegetable fat: vegetable oil.

[0088] [Table 1] Ingredients Quantity (% of total weight) Beta-pinene 50 Silicon dioxide 35 Vegetable oil 15

[0089] The composition is obtained as follows:

[0090] - loading silicon dioxide into a mixer,

[0091] - addition by spraying, at a temperature of 20-25°C, of ​​beta-pinene,

[0092] - mixing for 7 minutes

[0093] - addition of vegetable oil

[0094] - mixing for 1 minute

[0095] - sieving at 1 mm, to obtain a particle size of less than 1 mm,

[0096] - conditioning.

[0097] The composition obtained is in the form of a powder composed of microcapsules less than 1 mm in size.

[0098] The composition will be referred to hereafter as "encapsulated composition". 1. Experimental protocol for application in mycelium culture bags

[0099] Application of the composition in the industrial production phase of mycelium - Obtaining unencapsulated beta-pinene (CAS No. 127-91-3). - Deposit of 300 pL and 600 pL of said unencapsulated beta-pinene, per 15 litre bag of colonisation substrate (i.e. 20 and 40 pL / L of substrate), at the time of inoculation by the mycelium. - Preparation of the encapsulated composition (as described in point 1.1). - Deposit of 2, 3 and 4 g of the encapsulated composition per 15 litre bag of colonisation substrate (i.e. about 80, 120 and 160 pL / L of substrate), at the time of inoculation by the mycelium. - Colonization of substrate bags by mycelium for 21 days, according to the method usually used by mycelium producers.

[0100] Preparation and inoculation of experimental plots before cultivation - Inoculation of 9 kg plots of compost (representing 0.1 m2 of mushroom culture) with 72 g of untreated mycelium. - Inoculation of 9 kg plots of compost with 72 g of mycelium treated with unencapsulated beta pinene. - Inoculation of 9 kg plots of compost with 72 g of mycelium treated with the encapsulated composition. - Addition in 9 kg plots of compost of 72 g of supplements (nutritional supplements), inoculated with untreated mycelium and treated with unencapsulated beta-pinene and the encapsulated composition (See modalities indicated in column "Supp." in Tab.2).

[0101] Conducting the production of Agaricus bisoorus in a culture room - Incubation of the plots for 13 days. - Deposit of 3000 mL of casing soil (90% black peat and 10% calcium carbonate) at a thickness of 3 cm, on each plot. - Post-incubation of the plots for 10 days. - Beginning of the induction of fruiting of the first flight. - Harvesting, weighing and measuring the yields of the 3 flights. 1. Experimental protocol for application to compost inoculation

[0102] Application of the composition during the fungal production phase - Inoculation of 9 kg plots of compost (representing 0.1 m2 of mushroom culture) with 72 g of untreated mycelium. - Deposit of 3 g of the encapsulated composition per 9 kg plot of compost (i.e. 30 g / 90 kg).

[0103] Conducting the production of Agaricus bisporus in a culture room - Incubation of the plots for 13 days. - Deposit of 3000 mL of casing soil (90% black peat and 10% calcium carbonate) at a thickness of 3 cm, on each plot. - Post-incubation of the plots for 10 days. - Beginning of the induction of fruiting of the first flight. - Harvesting, weighing and measuring the yields of the 3 flights.

[0104] Each treatment described above was conducted on 6 identical experimental plots, thus corresponding to 6 replicates. The mycelium strain used for all experimental trials was the commercial variety of Agaricus bisporus, brand name Heirloom, produced by the American company Amycel.

[0105] 1.4 results

[0106] The table below presents the measured yields, in kilograms of healthy mushrooms per square meter of culture, of the different experimental treatments described above. All yields are also expressed as a percentage, relative to the control treatment (compost inoculated with untreated, unsupplemented mycelium).

[0107] [Table 2] Mycelium treatment Form applied Dosage applied (compost / bag) Sup P-added Flush 1 (Kg / m2) % / control Flushes 1+2 (Kg / m2) % / control Flushes 1+2+3 (Kg / m2) % / control Untreated None Control - 13.55 - 20.56 - 23.54 - Untreated None Control + supp. 14.34 + 5.83 % 22.77 + 10.75 % 27.04 + 14.87 % Untreated Encapsulated 30g / 90kg comp. - 14.25 + 5.17% 21.38 + 3.99% 24.16 + 2.63% [3-pinene Unencapsulated 300 pL / 15 L bag - 13.66 + 0.81% 21.47 + 4.43% 24.34 + 3.40% [3-pinene Unencapsulated 600 pL / 15 L bag - 13.89 + 2.51% 21.79 + 5.98% 24.76 + 5.18% [3-pinene Encapsulated 2 g / 15 L bag - 14.12 + 4.21% 22.02 + 7.10% 25.35 + 7.69% [3-pinene Encapsulated 2 g / bag 15 L 15.09 + 11.37% 24.16 + 17.51% 27.95 + 18.73% [3-Pinene Encapsulated 3 g / bag 15 L 15.22 + 12.32% 24.14 + 17.41% 28.24 + 19.97% [3-Pinene Encapsulated 4 g / bag 15 L 15.27 + 12.69% 24.26 + 18.00% 28.38 + 20.56%

[0108] According to the results of experimental tests, a clear improvement in yields can be observed when beta-pinene is applied in its unencapsulated form and encapsulated in mycelium culture bags, and in encapsulated form mixed with compost.

[0109] Increasing the doses applied, in non-encapsulated and encapsulated form, results in improved mushroom yields.

[0110] Application in encapsulated form allows for a gradual release of the active ingredient, and results in a greater and more sustained increase in yields over time, than in direct application in non-encapsulated form.

[0111] The encapsulated active ingredient allows the mycelium, when treated early, to improve its efficiency in utilizing nutrients. This capacity is clearly demonstrated when supplements (nutrient supplements) are added to the compost at the time of inoculation.

[0112] In this configuration, the yields obtained only on the first two flights (24.26 kg) are higher than the yields of the three flights of the control treatment (23.54 kg), conducted with untreated mycelium and without supplements added to the compost.

[0113] This last point is important because mushroom growers prefer to avoid continuing their crops until the third flush in order to shorten their production cycle, ensure a higher quality and more homogeneous production, and avoid the appearance of diseases which can be difficult to get rid of.

[0114] In conclusion, encapsulating the organic compounds selected according to the invention makes it possible to increase the application doses of active ingredients without risking excessive biostimulation or heterogeneous mycelium development in the culture bags. This potential increase in application doses results in improved mushroom yields.

Claims

Claims

1. Use of at least one organic compound selected from beta-pinene, delta-3-carene or beta-phellandrene, or a mixture thereof, in an encapsulated form, for stimulating the development and growth of a mycelium or a fungus.

2. Use according to claim 1 in which the organic compound(s) are in the form of liquid extracts comprising at least 90%, at least 92%, preferably at least 95% of said organic compound(s), by weight relative to the weight of the liquid extract.

3. Use according to claim 1 or 2 in which the mycelium or fungus is chosen from basidiomycetes, in particular button mushroom, oyster mushrooms and shiitake, more particularly Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus eryngii and Lentinula edodes.

4. Microcapsule comprising: - a core comprising at least one organic compound selected from beta-pinene, delta-3-carene or beta-phellandrene, or one of their combinations, a solid support, said organic compound(s) being adsorbed, absorbed onto or encapsulated in said solid support, the solid support being an inert solid material, a material composed of silica or silicon dioxide, and, - at least one coating layer formed from vegetable fat, said layer coating said core.

5. Microcapsule according to claim 4, characterized in that the organic compound(s) are in the form of liquid extracts comprising at least 90%, at least 92%, preferably at least 95% of said organic compound(s), by weight relative to the weight of the liquid extract.

6. Microcapsule according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the organic compound is beta-pinene.

7. Microcapsule according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the solid support is a spheroidal granule.

8. Microcapsule according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the solid support is an inert solid material, a material composed of silica or silicon dioxide.

9. Microcapsule according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that that the vegetable fat is composed of fatty acids or lipids, preferably one or more vegetable oils.

10. Composition comprising at least one microcapsule as defined in one of claims 4 to 9.

11. Composition according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises at least 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50% of at least one of said organic compounds.

12. Use of at least one microcapsule according to one of claims 4 to 9, or of a composition containing it, for stimulating the development and growth of a mycelium of a fungus.

13. Use according to claim 12, wherein the mycelium or fungus is chosen from basidiomycetes, in particular button mushroom, oyster mushroom and shiitake, more particularly Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus eryngii and Lentinula edodes.

14. Use according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that said organic compound is beta-pinene, in particular when the mycelium or mushroom is Agaricus bisporus.

15. Method for obtaining an inoculum of mycelium characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - preparation of a colonization substrate, - addition to the colonization substrate of at least one microcapsule according to one of claims 4 to 9, or of a composition comprising it, - inoculation of the colonization substrate with a mycelium, - obtaining an inoculum of mycelium - conditioning of the inoculum.

16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the microcapsule(s), or the composition comprising them, are added to the colonization substrate so that the concentration of the organic compound(s) is between 20 and 400 pL / L of colonization substrate.

17. Method for cultivating mushrooms from a mycelium inoculum, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - preparation of a fruiting substrate, - optionally, incorporation into the fruiting substrate of at least one microcapsule according to one of claims 4 to 9, or of a composition comprising, - seeding the fruiting substrate with a mycelium inoculum obtained by a method according to claim 15 or 16, - optionally, incorporation, into the fruiting substrate, of supplements or mixtures of nutrients specific to the mushroom culture, - incubation, with optional incorporation into the fruiting substrate of at least one microcapsule according to one of claims 4 to 9, or of a composition comprising, - fruiting, - harvesting.

18. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the quantity of microcapsules added to the fruiting substrate is 20 to 30 g per 90 kg of substrate, so that the concentration of the organic compound(s) is between 11.5 and 17.2 mL per 90 kg of fruiting substrate.

19. Method according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that the mycelium or the fungus is chosen from basidiomycetes, in particular the button mushroom, oyster mushrooms and shiitake, more particularly Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus eryngii and Lentinula edodes.

20. Method according to one of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that said organic compound is beta-pinene, in particular when the mycelium or mushroom is Agaricus bisporus.