Mycelial derivatives and culture media

Abstract

This method accurately induces fungal growth in the culture medium, thereby increasing the amount of fungal growth. [Solution] The mycelial derivative 50 provided in the culture medium 1 for cultivating fungi is characterized by having a tubular portion 51 that forms an air passage for the mushroom bed 20 in the culture medium 1 to respire, and a guiding portion 53 formed on the tubular portion 51 for guiding mycelium from the mushroom bed 20 to the surface of the culture medium 1.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mycelium derivative and a medium.

Background Art

[0002] As a method of harvesting mushrooms, it is common for producers to pick them using tools or the like. Further, as a method of efficiently harvesting mushrooms, for example, in Patent Document 1, when growing mushrooms by bottle cultivation, an injection nozzle is buried in the medium in the cultivation bottle, and gas is ejected from a pressure gas supply source through the nozzle to harvest the mushrooms. A method is disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, it is considered good if mushrooms can be accurately generated from various locations (many locations) on the surface of the medium, particularly from the targeted locations on the surface of the medium. By doing so, it is possible to maximize the production amount of mushrooms by using the nutrients of the fungal bed in the medium evenly. However, since mushrooms have a gregarious property called colonies, if there are places where mushrooms are likely to grow, the generation tends to concentrate there. Further, the generation points of mushrooms are greatly affected by the gaps between the layers of soil cover piled up, and since the stacking of this soil cover is done manually, it is difficult to generate mushrooms from the targeted locations.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a mycelium derivative and a medium that can accurately induce the generation of fungi in the medium and improve the generation amount of fungi. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a mycelial derivative to be provided in a culture medium for cultivating fungi, characterized by having a tubular portion that forms an air passage for the substrate in the culture medium to respire, and a guiding portion formed on the tubular portion for guiding mycelia from the substrate to the surface of the culture medium. In the present invention configured as described above, the tubular portion of the mycelial derivative functions as an air passage for the mushroom bed to respire, and the induction portion functions to guide the mycelium to the surface of the culture medium. By providing such a mycelial derivative in the culture medium, the growth of fungi can be accurately induced in the culture medium, that is, fungi can be grown from targeted locations on the surface of the culture medium, and as a result, the amount of fungi grown can be increased.

[0007] In the present invention, preferably, the guide portion extends in the longitudinal direction of the tubular portion and is formed to protrude from the outer surface of the tubular portion. According to the present invention configured in this manner, the induction unit can effectively guide the mycelium to the surface of the culture medium.

[0008] In the present invention, preferably, the guide portion is formed to extend spirally in the longitudinal direction of the tubular portion. According to the present invention configured in this manner, the induction portion can induce mycelium more effectively. Furthermore, the spiral induction portion has the advantage that the mycelial derivatives are firmly fixed to the culture medium and are less likely to fall off.

[0009] In the present invention, preferably, the guide portion has a plurality of protrusions that extend linearly in the longitudinal direction of the tubular portion. With the present invention configured in this way, the induction section can more effectively induce mycelium.

[0010] In a preferred example of the present invention, the guide portion has four protrusions arranged to form a substantially cross shape in cross-section.

[0011] In the present invention, preferably, the guide portion has a thickness of 1 mm or less. According to the present invention configured in this way, the thin induction portion can create appropriate gaps within the culture medium, thereby effectively inducing mycelium.

[0012] In other embodiments, in order to achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a culture medium for cultivating fungi, comprising a substrate, a covering soil covering the substrate, and the above-mentioned mycelial derivatives provided within the substrate and the covering soil. With the present invention configured in this way, by providing mycelial derivatives in the culture medium, it is possible to accurately induce the growth of fungi in the culture medium and improve the amount of fungal growth.

[0013] In the present invention, preferably, the culture medium has a support structure that is elastically deformable in at least one direction, the support structure constitutes a three-dimensional culture medium, the mushroom bed is provided inside the support structure, and the covering soil covers the support structure including the mushroom bed. According to the present invention configured in this way, fungi can be grown in a wide area in three dimensions using a three-dimensional culture medium. Furthermore, by applying a compressive load to the three-dimensional culture medium so that the support structure undergoes elastic deformation, forces are applied to the fungi and the covering soil deforms, making it easy to harvest the fungi.

[0014] In the present invention, preferably, a plurality of mycelial derivatives are provided such that at least one end of a mycelial derivative protrudes from each surface of the three-dimensional culture medium. According to the present invention configured in this way, fungi can be generated from each surface of the three-dimensional culture medium, making it possible to improve the amount of fungal growth.

[0015] In the present invention, preferably, one or more hyphae derivatives thinner than the hyphae derivative are arranged adjacent to one hyphae derivative. According to the present invention configured as described above, while the thick hypha derivative mainly functions to induce hyphae, the thin hypha derivative adjacent thereto functions to protect the hyphae and their passageways, so that a strong hypha passageway can be formed by the hypha derivative. As a result, it becomes possible to appropriately generate fungi even from the lower surface of the three-dimensional medium (the surface where gaps tend to be filled due to a large self-weight).

[0016] In the present invention, preferably, the support structure has a lattice shape whose overall shape corresponds to the shape of the three-dimensional medium and has voids inside. According to the present invention configured as described above, the shape of the three-dimensional medium can be reliably maintained, and since the support structure is open at the central portion of each surface, the growth of fungi is promoted on each surface. Also, even at the portion that contacts the support structure of the three-dimensional medium, the fungi can grow through the voids.

[0017] In the present invention, preferably, the elastic modulus of the support structure in at least one of the axial directions of the X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and Z-axis direction that are perpendicular to each other is smaller than the elastic modulus in other directions. According to the present invention configured as described above, the three-dimensional medium can be supported in the direction with a large elastic modulus, and by compressing in the direction with a small elastic modulus, the three-dimensional medium can be deformed while suppressing deformation in other directions. In particular, when the three-dimensional medium is dropped with the Y-axis direction being the vertical direction, the three-dimensional medium is deformed predominantly in the vertical direction, and the deformation in the horizontal direction can be suppressed.

Effects of the Invention

[0018] According to the hypha derivative and the medium according to the present invention, the generation of fungi in the medium can be accurately induced and the amount of fungi generated can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing the configuration of a medium according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2A] It is a perspective view showing the elastic support structure of the present embodiment. [Figure 2B] It is a front view showing the elastic support structure of this embodiment. [Figure 2C] It is a right side view showing the elastic support structure of this embodiment. [Figure 2D] It is a top view showing the elastic support structure of this embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a view showing the unit parts constituting the first plate-like part and the second plate-like part. [Figure 4] It is a view for explaining the assembly of the first plate-like part and the second plate-like part. [Figure 5] It is a view for explaining a method of creating a solid medium. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view showing the solid medium in a state of being housed in the medium support frame. [Figure 7] It is a photograph showing the growth state of mushrooms in the solid medium created by the inventors. [Figure 8A] It is a photograph showing the solid medium before dropping, which is housed in the medium support frame and has mushrooms growing on it. [Figure 8B] It is a photograph showing the solid medium after dropping, which is housed in the medium support frame and has mushrooms growing on it. [Figure 9] It is a perspective view showing the first example of the mycelium derivative according to this embodiment. [Figure 10A] It is a perspective view showing the second example of the mycelium derivative according to this embodiment. [Figure 10B] It is a perspective view showing the third example of the mycelium derivative according to this embodiment. [Figure 11] It is a perspective view showing the fourth example of the mycelium derivative according to this embodiment. [Figure 12] It is an explanatory view of a method for creating a medium using the mycelium derivative according to this embodiment. [Figure 13] It is a perspective view showing the solid medium using the mycelium derivative according to this embodiment. [Figure 14] It is an explanatory view of an arrangement example of the mycelium derivative according to this embodiment. [Figure 15]These are photographs showing the growth of mushrooms on the top, side, and bottom surfaces of a culture medium using the mycelial derivative according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] [culture medium] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the culture medium and harvesting method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case in which a roughly cubic three-dimensional culture medium is used as the culture medium and mushrooms are cultivated will be described. Note that the shape of the culture medium is not limited to cubes, but can be any shape such as rectangular prism, polyhedron, or columnar. Furthermore, the target of cultivation is not limited to mushrooms, but can be various plants and various fungi. However, when applying the method of harvesting by applying a load to the culture medium as described later, plants or fungi that can be easily harvested by applying force to the stem, such as mushrooms, are preferable.

[0021] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a culture medium according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the three-dimensional culture medium 1 includes an elastic support structure 10, a mushroom bed 20, and a covering soil 30. The elastic support structure 10 is formed by combining a plurality of members in a three-dimensional lattice structure, with gaps between the members. The mushroom bed 20 contains mushroom spawn and is located in the center of the elastic support structure 10. The covering soil 30 is provided so as to cover each surface of the elastic support structure 10 while being embedded inside it. With this configuration, the three-dimensional culture medium 1 can cultivate mushrooms not only on the horizontal surface but also on the sides and bottom surface.

[0022] Figures 2A to 2D show the elastic support structure of this embodiment, with Figure 2A being a perspective view, Figure 2B a front view, Figure 2C a right side view, and Figure 2D a top view. In the following description, the axial directions of the cubic shape of the elastic support structure 10 will be described as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, as shown in Figures 2A to 2D.

[0023] The elastic support structure 10 is, as a whole, a cubic lattice corresponding to the shape of the three-dimensional culture medium 1, and is formed of, for example, TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane). A cubic lattice shape means that members extend along each side of a cube, and three holes (in this embodiment, holes with a square cross-section) penetrate in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, connecting the centers of opposing, approximately square faces. The elastic support structure 10 can be formed, for example, using a 3D printer. The material used to form the elastic support structure 10 can be any material with the desired elasticity, and while it is efficient to manufacture it using a 3D printer, it may also be formed by other methods. When the shape of the culture medium is a rectangular parallelepiped or a columnar shape, it is preferable to configure the elastic support structure so that members extend along each side.

[0024] As shown in Figures 2A to 2D, the elastic support structure 10 is constructed by alternately stacking a first layer 110, in which a plurality of first plate-like portions 111 are arranged parallel to each other in the XY plane, and a second layer 120, in which a plurality of second plate-like portions 121 are arranged parallel to each other in the XY plane, in the Z-axis direction. The first plate-like portions 111 provided in the first layer 110 are parallel to each other and do not intersect, and the second plate-like portions 121 provided in the second layer 120 are parallel to each other and do not intersect. As will be described later, the first plate-like portions 111 and the second plate-like portions 121 have the same shape, and are constructed by connecting a plurality of unit portions 113 in the longitudinal direction.

[0025] The first plate-like portion 111 constituting the first layer 110 is a plate-like portion provided perpendicular to the XY plane. Multiple first plate-like portions 111 extend parallel to each other within each first layer 110. The first plate-like portion 111 extends linearly at a predetermined positive angle with respect to the X axis, and as it moves in the positive direction in the X axis direction (to the right in Figure 2D), it moves in the positive direction in the Y axis direction (upward in Figure 2D). The angle that the first plate-like portion 111 makes with respect to the X axis is 45 degrees or less, and in this embodiment it is 15 degrees. All of the first plate-like portions 111 constituting each first layer 110 are arranged identically and are arranged to overlap when viewed from the Z axis direction.

[0026] The second plate-like portion 121 constituting the second layer 120 consists of a plate-like portion provided perpendicular to the XY plane. Multiple second plate-like portions 121 extend parallel to each other within each second layer 120. The second plate-like portion 121 extends linearly at a predetermined negative angle with respect to the X axis, and as it moves toward the X axis direction (to the right in Figure 2D), it is inclined negatively toward the Y axis direction (downward in Figure 2D). The predetermined angle that the second plate-like portion 121 makes with the X axis is equal in absolute value to the angle that the first plate-like portion 111 makes with respect to the X axis. The angle that the second plate-like portion 121 makes with respect to the X axis is 45 degrees or less, and in this embodiment it is 15 degrees. All second plate-like portions 121 constituting each second layer 120 are arranged identically and are arranged to overlap when viewed from the Z axis direction.

[0027] As shown in Figure 2D, the first plate-like portion 111 constituting the first layer 110 and the second plate-like portion 121 constituting the second layer 120 form a rhombus grid in the XY plane. The grid points 130 of this rhombus grid are aligned in the X and Y directions. The length of the diagonal in the X direction of the rhombus grid is longer than the length of the diagonal in the Y direction. In addition, the length of the diagonal in the X direction of multiple rhombuses is constant, and the length of the diagonal in the Y direction of multiple rhombuses is constant. In each rhombus grid, the vertices with acute angles face each other in the X direction, and the vertices with obtuse angles face each other in the Y direction. The acute angles of these rhombuses are 30 degrees. With this configuration, the elastic support structure 10 has less elasticity in the Y direction than in the X direction. In this embodiment, the first plate-like portion 111 constituting the first layer 110 and the second plate-like portion 121 constituting the second layer 120 form a rhombus, but the invention is not limited to this, and they may form a square. In this case, the elasticity in the Y direction and the elasticity in the X direction will be equal.

[0028] Furthermore, as described above, the first plate-like portions 111 constituting each of the multiple first layers 110 are all arranged in the same way, and the second plate-like portions 121 constituting each of the multiple second layers 120 are all arranged in the same way. As a result, at the rhombus-shaped lattice points 130, the first plate-like portions 111 of the first layer 110 and the second plate-like portions 121 of the second layer 120 are alternately arranged in a straight line in the Z-axis direction. This results in very large elasticity in the Z-axis direction, and the elasticity in the Z-axis direction is greater than the elasticity in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. In addition, since the elastic support structure 10 is made up of alternating layers of first layers 110 consisting of multiple parallel first plate-like portions 111 and second layers 120 consisting of parallel second plate-like portions 121, it has voids inside.

[0029] Figure 3 shows the unit parts that make up the first plate-like part and the second plate-like part. The first plate-like part 111 and the second plate-like part 121 are made up of multiple unit parts 113 connected in the longitudinal direction. The intermediate part 113A of each unit part 113 has recesses formed on both sides in the height direction. As a result, the width of the end parts 113B of the unit part 113 is large, and the width of the intermediate part 113A is narrower than the width of the end parts 113B. The unit parts 113 are formed symmetrically in the longitudinal and transverse directions.

[0030] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the assembly of the first and second plate-like sections. As shown in Figure 4, the first plate-like section 111 constituting the first layer 110 is made up of connected unit sections 113, with the ends 113B of the unit sections 113 positioned at the grid points 130. Similarly, the second plate-like section 121 constituting the second layer 120 is made up of multiple connected unit sections 113, with the ends 113B of the unit sections 113 positioned at the grid points 130. In this way, the first plate-like section 111 and the second plate-like section 121 are formed by connecting unit sections 113 configured such that the width of the intermediate section 113A is narrow. As a result, gaps are formed in the elastic support structure 10 that penetrate the elastic support structure 10 in both front and side views, and the growth of mushrooms from the substrate 20 to the surface of the three-dimensional culture medium 1 is not hindered.

[0031] The elastic support structure 10 is manufactured using a 3D printer. Specifically, it is formed by alternately stacking a first layer 110 and a second layer 120 using a 3D printer. In this process, the lattice portion of the elastic support structure 10 is formed from, for example, TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), and the through-hole portion is formed from PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), a water-soluble material. After the cubic structure is formed, the PVA portion is dissolved in water. This allows for the formation of a cubic lattice-shaped elastic support structure 10.

[0032] The mushroom bed 20 can be manufactured, for example, by compost production and mycelial cultivation. Compost production is the process of making compost, in which materials such as sawdust, horse manure, coffee grounds, soybean grounds, and gypsum are mixed and fermented to produce compost. In mycelial cultivation, fungi are sprinkled into the compost by hand and mixed with the compost using a mixer. In this embodiment, mushroom spawn is used as the spawn, but it is not limited to this, and other fungi such as enoki or shiitake may also be used. It is also possible to cultivate plants in addition to fungi, in which case a culture medium can be formed from leaf mold or the like instead of the mushroom bed, and plant seeds can be planted. The culture medium is not limited to the above example, but any medium suitable for growing fungi (mushrooms) or plants can be used. The mushroom bed is formed in a roughly cubic shape and placed in the center of the elastic support structure 10.

[0033] For example, black peat moss can be used as the covering soil 30. Black peat moss is a fibrous plant material preserved in even colder water at the bottom of the peat moss deposited in the cold wetlands of Iceland. The covering soil 30 is not limited to this example; any soil suitable for growing fungi (mushrooms) or plants can be used. The covering soil 30 is provided so as to cover the surface of the mushroom bed 20 and the elastic support structure 10 so that the elastic support structure 10 is buried. All six sides of the three-dimensional culture medium 1 are covered with the covering soil 30.

[0034] Figure 5 illustrates the method for creating a three-dimensional culture medium. First, as shown in Figure 5(A), the mushroom bed 20 is shaped into a roughly cubic form and placed in the center of the elastic support structure 10. Next, as shown in Figure 5(B), the openings on each side of the elastic support structure 10 are covered with soil 30. Then, as shown in Figure 5(C), the portion along the elastic support structure 10 is covered with soil 30. This allows the three-dimensional culture medium 1 to be created.

[0035] Next, the method for cultivating and harvesting mushrooms according to this embodiment will be described. In the following description, cultivation and harvesting will be carried out using a cultivation and harvesting device with a three-dimensional growing medium 1, but the cultivation and harvesting device is not essential.

[0036] When cultivating using a cultivation device, the three-dimensional culture medium 1 is cultivated while housed in a culture medium support frame. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the three-dimensional culture medium housed in the culture medium support frame. As shown in Figure 6, the culture medium support frame 200 is made of, for example, resin or metal, and is formed in a cubic lattice shape, with a square opening in the center of each face. Each side 210 of the culture medium support frame 200 has an L-shaped cross-section (a shape bent at a right angle). The three-dimensional culture medium 1 is housed in the cubic space defined by each side 210 of the culture medium support frame 200. As a result, the culture medium support frame 200 covers the outside of each side of the three-dimensional culture medium 1. The three-dimensional culture medium 1 is supported by at least its bottom surface contacting the four sides of the bottom surface of the culture medium support frame 200. Note that some sides of the culture medium support frame 200 may be detachable to easily house the three-dimensional culture medium 1.

[0037] According to this embodiment, the three-dimensional growing medium 1 comprises an elastic support structure 10 and a covering soil 30 that covers the elastic support structure 10, and the elastic support structure 10 is elastically deformable. As a result, the three-dimensional growing medium 1 can be held in place by the elastic support structure 10 when mushrooms or other organisms are growing. This allows mushrooms to grow from the sides of the three-dimensional growing medium 1 as well, enabling them to grow over a wide area in three dimensions. Furthermore, by applying a compressive load to the three-dimensional growing medium 1 so that the elastic support structure 10 is elastically deformed, forces are applied to the mushrooms and the covering soil 30 deforms, making it easy to harvest the mushrooms.

[0038] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the three-dimensional culture medium 1 is substantially cubic in shape. As a result, parallel surfaces are formed, making it easier to apply a compressive load to the three-dimensional culture medium 1. In particular, a compressive load can be applied by placing one surface in contact with the ground and pressing the other surface with a jig or the like.

[0039] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the elastic support structure 10 has a lattice-like overall shape corresponding to the shape of the three-dimensional culture medium 1, and the three-dimensional culture medium 1 has a mushroom bed 20 provided inside the elastic support structure 10. This ensures that the shape of the three-dimensional culture medium 1 is reliably maintained, and because the elastic support structure 10 has an opening in the center of each face, mushroom growth is promoted on each face. In addition, because the mushroom bed is provided inside the three-dimensional culture medium 1, the mushroom bed 20 is retained inside even if the three-dimensional culture medium 1 is deformed when harvesting mushrooms.

[0040] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the elastic support structure 10 has voids inside. As a result, even in the portion of the three-dimensional culture medium 1 that is in contact with the elastic support structure 10, mushroom mycelium can grow by passing through the voids.

[0041] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the elasticity of the elastic support structure 10 in the Y-axis direction is smaller than the elasticity in the other directions, among the mutually orthogonal X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions. As a result, the three-dimensional culture medium 1 can be supported in the X-axis and Z-axis directions, and the three-dimensional culture medium 1 can be easily deformed by compressing it in the direction of less elasticity. In particular, when the three-dimensional culture medium 1 is dropped with the Y-axis direction being vertical, the three-dimensional culture medium 1 deforms significantly in the vertical direction and slightly in the horizontal direction. This prevents the three-dimensional culture medium 1 from collapsing and allows for easy reuse of the three-dimensional culture medium 1.

[0042] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the elastic support structure 10 is made up of a first layer 110 in which a plurality of first plate-like portions 111 are arranged parallel to each other in the XY plane, and a second layer 120 in which a plurality of second plate-like portions 121 are arranged parallel to each other in the XY plane at an angle such that they intersect with the first plate-like portions 111, with these layers being alternately stacked in the Z-axis direction. This makes it possible to increase the elasticity of the elastic support structure 10 in the Z-axis direction compared to the X-axis and Y-axis directions.

[0043] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the first plate-like portion 111 and the second plate-like portion 121 intersect each other at multiple intersection points when viewed from the Z-axis direction, and the first plate-like portion 111 and the second plate-like portion 121 are formed such that the intermediate portion 113A between adjacent intersection points is narrower than the end portions 113B. As a result, the first plate-like portion 111 and the second plate-like portion 121 become thinner, allowing the mushroom to pass through the elastic support structure 10 and grow.

[0044] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the substrate 20 is a mushroom substrate. Mushrooms easily break at the stem due to loads such as shear force. For this reason, the three-dimensional culture medium 1 of this embodiment is suitable when it is a mushroom substrate.

[0045] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the method for harvesting mushrooms grown from the three-dimensional culture medium 1 is as follows: the three-dimensional culture medium 1 has an elastic support structure 10 inside, the elastic support structure 10 is elastically deformable in at least one direction, and a load is applied to the three-dimensional culture medium in the direction in which the elastic support structure 10 is elastically deformable. In this way, by applying a compressive load to the three-dimensional culture medium 1 so that the elastic support structure 10 is elastically deformed, force is applied to the mushrooms and the covering soil 30 is deformed, making it possible to easily harvest the mushrooms.

[0046] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, a load is applied to the stereochemical culture medium 1 by dropping it. This allows a load to be applied to the stereochemical culture medium 1 in a simple manner.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the case where the three-dimensional culture medium is cubic in shape was described, but it is not limited to this, and may also be rectangular or columnar in shape. However, a shape having two parallel faces is preferred because the three-dimensional culture medium is harvested when harvesting.

[0048] Furthermore, although the above embodiment describes a method for cultivating mushrooms, it is not limited to this and can also be applied to cultivating other fungi (mushrooms) or plants. In addition, in this embodiment, a mushroom bed is provided in the center of the three-dimensional culture medium, but instead of providing a mushroom bed, the culture medium may be filled inside the elastic support structure and the outside may be covered with the culture medium, with the culture medium containing spawn or seeds.

[0049] Furthermore, although the above embodiment described a case where the elastic support structure is lattice-shaped, it is not limited to this, and its shape is not restricted as long as a mushroom bed can be placed inside.

[0050] (Examples) The inventors experimentally confirmed that mushrooms can be cultivated using the stereochemical culture medium 1 of this embodiment. As described above, the inventors shaped the mushroom bed 20 into a roughly cubic shape, placed it in the center of the elastic support structure 10, and covered the openings on each side of the elastic support structure 10 and the parts along the elastic support structure 10 with covering soil 30 to create a three-dimensional culture medium 1. The created three-dimensional culture medium 1 was then placed in an environment with a bed temperature of 18-25°C, room temperature of 22-25°C, high humidity (~95%), and high CO2 concentration (approximately 1000 ppm). Figure 7 is a photograph showing the growth of mushrooms in the three-dimensional culture medium created by the inventors. About 7 days after the creation of the three-dimensional culture medium 1, the mushroom mycelium spread to the surface, as shown in Figure 7(A).

[0051] Next, a growth-promoting procedure was performed on three-dimensional culture medium 1. This procedure involves gradually introducing changes to the surrounding environment, such as lowering the floor temperature, room temperature, and humidity, to create a harsh environment for the mushrooms. This shocks the mushrooms and promotes the development of mushroom sprouts. As a result, the mycelium became thicker and harder, as shown in Figure 7(B).

[0052] Furthermore, by applying the growth control procedure, the emergence of pins (mushroom sprouts) was confirmed, as shown in Figure 7(C). In this state, the bed temperature was set to ~19°C, room temperature to 17~18°C, humidity to 85%, and CO2 to 1200 ppm. Subsequently, mushrooms grew as shown in Figure 7(D). As shown in the same figure, it can be confirmed that mushrooms emerged not only from the top but also from the sides.

[0053] Next, the inventors confirmed that mushrooms could be harvested by dropping the three-dimensional culture medium in which the mushrooms were growing. Figures 8A and 8B are photographs showing a three-dimensional growing medium containing mushrooms, housed in a support frame. Figure 8A shows the medium before dropping, and Figure 8B shows it after dropping. As shown in Figure 8A, mushrooms are growing on the sides of the three-dimensional growing medium before dropping. This three-dimensional growing medium housed in the support frame was dropped from a height of 500 mm. As a result, as shown in Figure 8B, the three-dimensional growing medium was compressed vertically, but did not collapse horizontally. The mushrooms that had grown on the sides of the three-dimensional growing medium fell off. Thus, by using the three-dimensional growing medium of this embodiment, it is possible to suppress lateral collapse even when a compressive load is applied to the three-dimensional growing medium. This allows the three-dimensional growing medium to be reused for mushroom growth after the mushrooms have been harvested.

[0054] [Mycelial derivatives] Next, the mycelial derivative according to this embodiment will be described. In order to fully realize the advantages of the three-dimensional culture medium described above, it is ideal for mushrooms to grow from each surface of the three-dimensional culture medium. This is to maximize the production of mushrooms by using the nutrients in the internal substrate without bias, that is, to make the maximum possible amount of mushrooms that can grow the harvest amount. However, because mushrooms have a tendency to grow in clusters called colonies, if there is a place where mushrooms are likely to grow, they tend to grow in concentration there. In addition, the point of mushroom growth is greatly influenced by the gaps between the layers of soil covering, and since this layering of soil is done manually, it is difficult to grasp the reproducibility and ease of mushroom growth. Furthermore, because the gaps in the lower part of the three-dimensional culture medium collapse due to its own weight, it is extremely difficult to create gaps in the lower part where mushrooms can grow (it is also difficult to judge and recognize that gaps have been created).

[0055] Therefore, in this embodiment, by providing a mycelial derivative in the culture medium that guides mycelium from the substrate to the surface of the culture medium, mushroom growth points are created in the mushroom culture medium (both planar and three-dimensional media), thereby promoting mushroom growth at targeted points or on surfaces where cultivation is difficult. By creating mushroom growth points in this way, uneven distribution of colonies and mushroom growth on each surface is prevented, and the majority of the substrate within the culture medium can be contributed to mushroom growth. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent mushroom growth at points that are damaged during harvesting, such as the corners of three-dimensional media, or at points where the container is in close contact and mushrooms cannot grow sufficiently, thereby supporting the growth of high-quality mushrooms.

[0056] Next, with reference to Figures 9 to 11, the specific configuration of the mycelial derivative according to this embodiment will be described.

[0057] Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a first example of a mycelial derivative according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 9, the mycelial derivative 50a according to the first example has a straw-shaped tubular portion 51 that extends straight in the longitudinal direction and forms a cavity 52, and a guide portion 53 that is formed to protrude radially outward from the outer surface of the tubular portion 51. The tubular portion 51 functions as an air passage for the mycelium bed in the culture medium to respire, and the guide portion 53 functions to guide the mycelium from the mycelium bed to the surface of the culture medium. Specifically, the guide portion 53 is formed to extend spirally (spiral-shaped, propeller-shaped) from one end of the tubular portion 51 to the other end, that is, to extend while spirally rotating around the tubular portion 51. For example, the total length of the mycelial derivative 50a is 400 mm, the inner diameter of the tubular portion 51 is 4 mm, the overall outer diameter of the tubular portion 51 and the induction portion 53 is 10 mm, and the thickness of the tubular portion 51 and the induction portion 53 is 0.5 mm.

[0058] Next, Figures 10(A) and (B) are perspective views showing the second and third examples of mycelial derivatives according to this embodiment. As shown in Figures 10(A) and (B), the mycelial derivatives 50b and 50c of the second and third examples also have a straw-shaped tubular portion 51 that forms a cavity 52, and a guide portion 53 that is formed to protrude from the outer surface of the tubular portion 51 and extends spirally (spiral-shaped, propeller-shaped) from one end to the other end of the tubular portion 51, similar to the mycelial derivative 50a of the first example. For example, the total length of the mycelial derivative 50b is 400 mm, the inner diameter of the tubular portion 51 is 2 mm, the overall outer diameter of the tubular portion 51 and the guiding portion 53 is 6 mm, and the thickness of the tubular portion 51 and the guiding portion 53 is 0.5 mm. In contrast, the mycelial derivative 50c according to the third example is formed to be thicker than the mycelial derivative 50a according to the first example. For example, the total length of the mycelial derivative 50c is 400 mm, the inner diameter of the tubular portion 51 is 6 mm, the overall outer diameter of the tubular portion 51 and the guiding portion 53 is 14 mm, and the thickness of the tubular portion 51 and the guiding portion 53 is 0.5 mm.

[0059] By providing mycelial derivatives of various sizes, 50a to 50c, the appropriate size can be selected to prevent oxygen depletion and drying of the culture medium, depending on the size of the culture medium and the number of mycelial derivatives used. Using the smaller mycelial derivative 50b allows for pinpoint application of mushroom-forming areas. Conversely, using the larger mycelial derivative 50c allows for application of mushroom-forming areas over a wide area with just one derivative. By appropriately selecting the size of the mycelial derivative in this way, it becomes possible to impart the desired induction properties to the culture medium.

[0060] Next, Figure 11 is a perspective view showing a fourth example of a mycelial derivative according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 11, the mycelial derivative 50d of the fourth example also has a straw-shaped tubular portion 51 that forms a cavity 52, similar to the mycelial derivatives 50a to 50c of the first to third examples. However, the configuration of the induction portion 55 of the mycelial derivative 50d of the fourth example differs from that of the induction portion 53 of the mycelial derivatives 50a to 50c of the first to third examples. Specifically, in the mycelial derivative 50d of the fourth example, the induction portion 55 has four protrusions that extend linearly from one end to the other of the tubular portion 51 and are arranged to form a roughly cross shape in cross-section. For example, the total length of the mycelial derivative 50c is 400 mm, the inner diameter of the tubular portion 51 is 4 mm, the overall outer diameter of the tubular portion 51 and the induction portion 53 is 11 mm, and the thickness of the tubular portion 51 and the induction portion 53 is 0.5 mm. Furthermore, the induction section 55 is not limited to being composed of four protrusions arranged to form a roughly cross shape in cross-section; the induction section 55 may be composed of three or fewer protrusions, or five or more protrusions. Also, the mycelial derivative 50d may be available in various sizes, similar to the mycelial derivatives 50a to 50c described above.

[0061] Experiments conducted by the inventors (using mycelial derivatives having various shapes) revealed that by placing the mycelial derivatives 50a to 50d having the above shapes in the culture medium, it is possible to guide the mycelium from the substrate to the surface of the medium and accurately create mushroom growth points. Specifically, it was found that mycelial derivatives 50a to 50d having guiding parts 53 and 55 can accurately create mushroom growth points compared to mycelial derivatives without guiding parts, such as mycelial derivatives consisting only of straight, straw-like tubular parts or mycelial derivatives consisting only of spirally extending straw-like tubular parts. This is mainly because the thin guiding parts 53 and 55 (for example, having a thickness of 0.5 mm) in the mycelial derivatives 50a to 50d create appropriate gaps in the culture medium, thereby accurately inducing mushroom growth. It should be noted that the thickness of the mycelial derivatives 50a to 50d is not limited to 0.5 mm, and they can be formed to various thicknesses (preferably 1 mm or less).

[0062] Furthermore, comparing mycelial derivatives 50a-50c with mycelial derivative 50d, mycelial derivatives 50a-50c, which have a spiral-shaped induction portion 53, have the advantage of being firmly fixed to the culture medium and less likely to fall off when placed in the culture medium. On the other hand, mycelial derivative 50d, which has a linear induction portion 55, tends to have its mycelial induction range spread in a cross shape rather than a circle when the size is increased.

[0063] Furthermore, while mycelial derivatives 50a to 50d are created, for example, using a 3D printer with resin (photocurable resin) (stereolithography), they are not limited to being created using a 3D printer. In the following, when mycelial derivatives 50a to 50d are used without distinction, they will simply be referred to as "mycelial derivative 50".

[0064] Next, with reference to Figure 12, a method for preparing a culture medium using the mycelial derivative 50 according to this embodiment will be described. First, the mushroom bed 20 is laid out in the case 60 (Figure 12(A)). Then, the covering soil 30 is laid out on top of the mushroom bed 20 so as to leave no gaps, that is, the mushroom bed 20 is covered with the covering soil 30 (Figure 12(B)). The mushroom bed 20 and covering soil 30 can be the ones described above. Next, multiple holes 61 are made in the areas where mushrooms are to grow, so as to reach the mushroom bed 20 through the covering soil 30 (Figure 12(C)), and the mycelial derivative 50 is inserted into each of these holes 61 (Figure 12(D)). In this case, it is desirable to carefully and gently insert the mycelial derivative 50 so that the covering soil 30 and the mushroom bed 20 do not clog the tubular part 51 of the mycelial derivative 50 and the mycelial derivative 50 can reach the mushroom bed 20. Furthermore, it is desirable to carefully determine where to provide the holes 61 so that the mycelial derivative 50 can reliably reach the substrate 20. In addition, the mycelial derivative 50 is provided so that its end protrudes from the surface of the covering soil 30, i.e., is exposed, so that air can be supplied from the cavity 52 of the tubular portion 51 to the substrate 20. In Figure 12(D), the length of the end of the mycelial derivative 50 exposed from the surface of the covering soil 30 is relatively long, but the length of the end of the mycelial derivative 50 exposed from the surface of the covering soil 30 can be made shorter (the same applies to Figure 13, which will be described later). The length of the end of the mycelial derivative 50 exposed from the surface of the covering soil 30 can be selected as appropriate.

[0065] Figure 12 shows an example of applying the mycelial derivative 50 according to this embodiment to a planar culture medium, but the mycelial derivative 50 according to this embodiment can also be applied to the three-dimensional culture medium described above. Figure 13 is a perspective view showing an example of a three-dimensional culture medium using the mycelial derivative 50 according to this embodiment. Figure 13 is similar to Figure 5(C). That is, it shows a three-dimensional culture medium 1 in which a mushroom bed 20 is placed in the center of an elastic support structure 10, and the portion along the elastic support structure 10 and the openings on each surface are covered with a covering soil 30. In the example shown in Figure 13, four mycelial derivatives 50 are provided on each surface (top, side, bottom) of the three-dimensional culture medium 1 so as to reach the mushroom bed 20 through the covering soil 30 and the openings on each surface of the elastic support structure 10 (the mycelial derivatives 50 are simplified in Figure 13). When providing the mycelial derivative 50 to the three-dimensional culture medium 1 in this way, the method described in Figure 12 can be used. Furthermore, three or fewer or five or more mycelial derivatives 50 may be provided on each surface of the three-dimensional culture medium 1, and it is not limited to providing mycelial derivatives 50 on the entire surface of the three-dimensional culture medium 1 (in other words, there may be surfaces of the three-dimensional culture medium 1 on which no mycelial derivatives 50 are provided).

[0066] Here, if we attempt to grow mushrooms from each surface of the three-dimensional culture medium 1, it is difficult to grow mushrooms from the bottom surface of the three-dimensional culture medium 1. This is because the bottom surface of the three-dimensional culture medium 1 is subjected to a large amount of its own weight, which fills in the gaps. Therefore, in this embodiment, the mycelial derivatives 50 are arranged in a manner that allows mushrooms to grow appropriately from the bottom surface of the three-dimensional culture medium 1. The arrangement of the mycelial derivatives 50 on the bottom surface of the three-dimensional culture medium 1 will be explained with reference to Figure 14. Figure 14(A) is a schematic plan view showing the bottom surface of the three-dimensional culture medium 1. As shown in Figure 14(A), in this embodiment, on the bottom surface of the three-dimensional culture medium 1, thin (small outer diameter) mycelial derivatives 50b are arranged adjacent to thick (large outer diameter) mycelial derivatives 50c (in Figure 14(A), mycelial derivatives 50b and 50c are shown in a simplified manner). In the example shown in Figure 14(A), four mycelial derivatives 50c are used, and two mycelial derivatives 50b are positioned opposite each of the mycelial derivatives 50c, with the mycelial derivatives 50c in between.

[0067] The mycelial derivative 50 placed on the bottom surface of the three-dimensional culture medium 1 needs to be tightly wrapped with the surrounding soil 30 to prevent it from falling due to gravity. However, doing so crushes the pathway (guiding portion) of the mycelium, preventing the mycelium from being properly guided by the mycelial derivative 50. Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to form a stronger pathway for the mycelium, multiple mycelial derivatives 50 are used to simulate the taproot (main part) and lateral roots (parts that support the main part) of dicotyledonous plants (Figure 14(B)), as described above, with a thick mycelial derivative 50c and a thin mycelial derivative 50b placed adjacent to it. As a result, the thick mycelial derivative 50c mainly functions to guide the mycelium (form the pathway for the mycelium), while the thin mycelial derivative 50b functions to protect the mycelium and its pathway, making it possible to properly grow mushrooms from the bottom surface of the three-dimensional culture medium 1. Furthermore, the arrangement of the mycelial derivatives 50 as shown in Figure 14(A) is not limited to being applied to the bottom surface of the stereochemical culture medium 1, but may also be applied to the sides of the stereochemical culture medium 1, etc.

[0068] Next, Figure 15 is a photograph showing the growth of mushrooms on the top, side, and bottom surfaces of a culture medium using the mycelial derivative 50 according to this embodiment. In Figure 15, the photographs showing the top and bottom surfaces show the results when mushrooms were grown on a flat culture medium, and the photograph showing the side surfaces shows the results when mushrooms were grown on a three-dimensional culture medium. In particular, the photograph showing the bottom surface shows the results when mushrooms were grown with the side of the culture medium exposed facing downwards in the case containing the culture medium.

[0069] As shown in Figure 15, by providing the mycelial derivative 50 according to this embodiment to the culture medium, it can be seen that mushrooms are appropriately growing from the top, sides, and bottom surfaces of the culture medium. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the unevenness in mushroom growth and damage to mushrooms that occurred particularly in three-dimensional culture media, and to improve the yield of mushrooms. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, compared to conventional techniques for inducing growth points, such as covering with perforated plastic, it is suitable for small-scale and three-dimensional cultivation, and it is possible to induce growth precisely without compromising the yield. In addition, in three-dimensional culture media, the bottom and lower sides are crushed by their own weight, making it difficult to secure pathways for mycelium, but according to this embodiment, by using the mycelial derivative 50, it is possible to provide mushroom growth points, making it possible to maximize the cultivation area, which is an advantage of three-dimensional culture media. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0070] 1: Stereochemical culture medium 10: Elastic support structure 20: Mushroom bed 30: Covering soil 50: Mycelial derivatives 51 :Tubular part 53, 55: Guidance part 110: 1st layer 111: First plate-like part 113: Unit part 113A: Middle part 113B: End 120: 2nd layer 121: Second plate-like part 130: Lattice point 200: Culture medium support frame

Claims

1. A mycelial derivative provided in a culture medium for cultivating fungi, The tubular portion forms an air passage for the mushroom bed in the culture medium to respire, A guide portion is formed on the tubular portion for guiding mycelium from the substrate to the surface of the culture medium, A mycelial derivative characterized by having the following properties.

2. The mycelial derivative according to claim 1, wherein the induction portion extends in the longitudinal direction of the tubular portion and is formed to protrude from the outer surface of the tubular portion.

3. The mycelial derivative according to claim 2, wherein the induction portion is formed to extend spirally in the longitudinal direction of the tubular portion.

4. The mycelial derivative according to claim 2, wherein the induction portion has a plurality of protrusions extending linearly in the longitudinal direction of the tubular portion.

5. The mycelial derivative according to claim 4, wherein the induction portion has four protrusions arranged to form a substantially cross shape in cross-section.

6. The induction portion has a thickness of 1 mm or less, as described in claim 2.

7. A culture medium for cultivating fungi, Mushroom substrate and, Covering soil that covers the aforementioned mushroom bed, A mycelial derivative according to any one of claims 1 to 6 provided within the mushroom bed and within the covering soil, A culture medium characterized by having the following features.

8. The culture medium has a support structure that is elastically deformable in at least one direction, and the support structure constitutes a three-dimensional culture medium. The mushroom bed is provided inside the support structure, and the covering soil covers the support structure including the mushroom bed. The culture medium according to claim 7.

9. The culture medium according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of mycelial derivatives are provided such that at least one end of each mycelial derivative protrudes from each surface of the three-dimensional culture medium.

10. The culture medium according to claim 8, wherein one or more hyphae derivatives thinner than the hyphae derivative are arranged adjacent to one of the hyphae derivatives.

11. The support structure has an overall shape that corresponds to the shape of the three-dimensional culture medium, and has voids inside. The culture medium according to claim 8.

12. The support structure has elasticity in at least one of the mutually orthogonal X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions that is smaller than the elasticity in the other directions. The culture medium according to claim 8.

Images