Substrate Composition and Method for Growing Mycological Materials

Abstract

A substrate is provided for growing basidiomycete mycelium comprised of nutritional and one of non-nutritional particles and fiber characterized in that the substrate promotes the growth and differentiation of basidiomycete mycelium without supporting the production of a basidiocarp. The method of growing the basidiomycete mycelium includes inoculating the substrate with a vegetative mycelium and incubating in a first incubation period at controlled temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels followed by a finishing incubation period.

1 . A substrate for growing basidiomycete mycelium comprising nutritional and one of non-nutritional particles and fiber characterized in that said substrate promotes the growth and differentiation of basidiomycete mycelium without supporting the production of a basidiocarp. 
     
     
         2 . A substrate for growing basidiomycete mycelium comprising non-nutritional material, nutritional particles and nutrient 
     
     
         3 . A substrate as set forth in  claim 2  where said non-nutritional material is selected from the group consisting of rice hulls, oat hulls, cottonseed hulls, buckwheat hulls, soybean hulls, perlite, cotton fiber and cotton burs. 
     
     
         4 . A substrate as set forth in  claim 2  where said nutritional particles are maltodextrin. 
     
     
         5 . A substrate as set forth in  claim 2  where said nutrient is calcium sulphate. 
     
     
         6 . A substrate as set forth in  claim 2  comprising 335 g Rice Hulls, 432 g Cottonseed Hulls and 8 g Maltodextrin. 
     
     
         7 . A substrate as set forth in  claim 2  comprising 450 g Buckwheat Hulls, 432 g Cottonseed Hulls and 8 g Maltodextrin. 
     
     
         8 . A substrate as set forth in  claim 2  comprising 335 g Soybean Hulls, 432 g Cottonseed Hulls and 8 g Maltodextrin. 
     
     
         9 . A substrate as set forth in  claim 2  comprising 300 g Perlite, 432 g Cottonseed Hulls and 8 g Maltodextrin. 
     
     
         10 . A substrate as set forth in  claim 2  comprising 520 g Cotton Fiber and 32 g Maltodextrin. 
     
     
         11 . A substrate as set forth in  claim 2  comprising 480 g Cotton Burs, 40 g Cottonseed Hulls and 32 g Maltodextrin. 
     
     
         12 . A method of growing basidiomycete mycelium comprising the steps of
 providing a substrate comprised of non-nutritional material, nutritional particles and nutrient capable of promoting the growth and differentiation of basidiomycete mycelium without supporting the production of a basidiocarp;   adding water to said substrate;   inoculating the substrate with a vegetative mycelium; and   thereafter incubating the inoculated substrate in a first incubation period at a temperature between 24 and 30° C. and an operating relative humidity of 80 to 100% while allowing carbon dioxide levels to build over the course of incubation to in excess of 5000 ppm.   
     
     
         13 . A method as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising the step of subjecting the incubated substrate to a secondary incubation period wherein said temperature is maintained between 15 and 25° C. 
     
     
         14 . A method as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising the step of subjecting the incubated substrate to a secondary incubation period wherein said carbon dioxide level is elevated to between 10,000 and 60,000 ppm, 
     
     
         15 . A method as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising the step of subjecting the incubated substrate to a secondary incubation period wherein said relative humidity is greater than 90%. 
     
     
         16 . A method as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising the step of subjecting the incubated substrate to a secondary incubation period wherein the incubated substrate is nested in a configuration that offers no light exposure.