Trichoderma Multiplication Using Low-Temperature Wood Fiber Disinfection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for enriching plant growing substrates with Trichoderma microorganisms often result in cooked wood fibers with reduced hydrophilicity and water retention capacity, making them unsuitable for effective microorganism multiplication.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the disinfection and simultaneous sterilization of wood fibers during production, followed by inoculation with a Trichoderma stock suspension in a culture medium with specific wood fiber and nutrient composition, allowing for in situ multiplication and amplification of Trichoderma propagules, reducing contamination levels and severe disinfection requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If wood fibers are disinfected by cooking at high temperature, then contamination is reduced, but hydrophilicity and water retention capacity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the disinfection parameters from high-temperature cooking to low-temperature chemical treatment using hydrogen peroxide or other disinfectants at temperatures below 40°C, thereby eliminating the harmful thermal effect on wood fiber properties while achieving effective contamination reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal disinfection system with a chemical disinfection system using hydrogen peroxide or other disinfectants, substituting thermal energy with chemical action to achieve contamination control without compromising wood fiber hydrophilicity and water retention
2Object-affected harmful factors
If severe disinfection is applied to wood fibers, then contamination is reduced, but substrate quality for microorganism multiplication deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the disinfection approach from severe thermal treatment to mild chemical treatment, adjusting the parameters to achieve sufficient contamination control while preserving substrate quality for microorganism multiplication
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces chemical disinfectants such as hydrogen peroxide as intermediaries that mediate between the need for contamination control and the need to preserve substrate quality, providing a gentler alternative to direct thermal disinfection
3Object-affected harmful factors
If Trichoderma is inoculated in pre-sterilized substrate, then contamination control is improved, but multiplication efficiency is reduced due to loss of hydrophilicity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the substrate treatment parameters to maintain lower temperatures and preserve hydrophilicity, enabling both contamination control and high propagule production through optimized disinfection conditions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables the efficient multiplication of Trichoderma microorganisms, achieving high propagule concentrations while maintaining the hydrophilicity and water retention capacity of the wood fibers, resulting in a conducive growing support for plants with reduced substrate loss and improved biomass yield.
Implementation Method 1
maintaining the hydrophilicity and water retention capacity of the wood fibers
Implementation Method 2
inoculation with a Trichoderma stock suspension in a culture medium with specific wood fiber and nutrient composition, allowing for in situ multiplication and amplification of Trichoderma propagules
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for multiplying a strain of Trichoderma, which includes the preparation of substantially contaminant-free culture media, containing disinfected wood fibers obtained by means of a twin-screw extruder, the amplification of Trichoderma via a series of steps for manufacturing a primary inoculum and then a secondary inoculum from said primary inoculum, and the multiplication of the microorganisms in each step, wherein the multiplication of the propagules reaches 2×104 to 105.The invention also relates to a plant growing medium containing a secondary inoculum of Trichoderma.