Methods for culturing filamentous fungi, in which the filamentous fungi are grown in a colloid of air and a fermentation medium, are provided. The methods result in more rapid and prolific growth of the filamentous fungus than has been achieved by previous methods. Biomats produced by the methods and air-medium colloids for use in the methods are also provided.

A device for harvesting mushrooms from a mushroom bed involves a robotic aim configured to interchangeably deploy one of a plurality of different suction grippers, each of the suction grippers having a suction cup having a size and shape profile appropriate for gripping a cap of a mushroom, the cap having a size and shape profile within a predetermined range. A vacuum source in fluid communication with the suction gripper supplies negative air pressure to the suction gripper for retaining a cap of the mushroom to be harvested in the suction cup. A control circuit in electronic communication with the suction gripper and the vacuum source is configured to automatically adjust the negative air pressure in the suction gripper in response to harvesting requirements during a mushroom harvesting process. A few standard mushroom shapes have been identified, which permits suction cup designs that maximize contact between the suction cups and the mushroom caps, which permits minimizing the strength of the vacuum needed to harvest the mushrooms.

Systems and methods of generating water for growing or vitally supporting plants, fungi, and/or aquatic animals are provided herein. The systems include a water generating unit that utilizes process fluid produced by plant transpiration or fungus respiration to generate water. Nutrients may be added to the water through hydroponic and aquaponic systems, then provided back to the plants in a closed loop. The systems may be monitored, optimized, and controlled remotely.

Systems and methods of generating water for growing or vitally supporting plants, fungi, and/or aquatic animals are provided herein. The systems include a water generating unit that utilizes process fluid produced by plant transpiration or fungus respiration to generate water. Nutrients may be added to the water through hydroponic and aquaponic systems, then provided back to the plants in a closed loop. The systems may be monitored, optimized, and controlled remotely.

To provide an artificial tissue model that can be more advantageously used in surgical technique training, as well as a method of fabricating the same. The present invention provides an artificial organ model for surgical training, the model containing a naturally grown or cultivated mushroom. The mushroom forming the raw material is shaped, colored, and subjected to a softening treatment to fabricate an artificial organ that imitates or reproduces all or part of an organ to be modeled, such as the brain, the liver, the heart, a blood vessel, the neck, the chest, the abdomen, the arm, the thigh, a ureter, a nerve, a lymphatic vessel, the intestinal tract, or the like.

The invention describes a methodology for production of a secondary extra-particle fungal matrix for application as a mycological material, manufactured via a Type II actively aerated static packed-bed bioreactor. A pre-conditioned air stream is passed through a substrate of discrete elements inoculated with a filamentous fungus to form an isotropic inter-particle hyphal matrix between the discrete elements. Continued feeding of the air through the substrate of discrete elements and isotropic inter-particle hyphal matrixes develops an extra-particle hyphal matrix that extends from an isotropic inter-particle hyphal matrix in the direction of airflow into a void space within the vessel.

The invention describes a methodology for production of a secondary extra-particle fungal matrix for application as a mycological material, manufactured via a Type II actively aerated static packed-bed bioreactor. A pre-conditioned air stream is passed through a substrate of discrete elements inoculated with a filamentous fungus to form an isotropic inter-particle hyphal matrix between the discrete elements. Continued feeding of the air through the substrate of discrete elements and isotropic inter-particle hyphal matrixes develops an extra-particle hyphal matrix that extends from an isotropic inter-particle hyphal matrix in the direction of airflow into a void space within the vessel.

A mushroom culture of Agaricus bisporus, comprising at least one set of chromosomes as a culture of line J14756-s3, includes a representative culture of the line, which has been deposited under NRRL Accession No. 67317. A method of producing a hybrid mushroom culture of Agaricus bisporus comprising: mating a culture comprising at least one set of chromosomes as a culture of line J14756-s3 with a second homokaryotic line culture. Additionally, mushrooms, parts of the culture and products incorporating the culture of the invention are provided.

A mushroom culture of Agaricus bisporus, comprising at least one set of chromosomes as a culture of line J14756-s3, includes a representative culture of the line, which has been deposited under NRRL Accession No. 67317. A method of producing a hybrid mushroom culture of Agaricus bisporus comprising: mating a culture comprising at least one set of chromosomes as a culture of line J14756-s3 with a second homokaryotic line culture. Additionally, mushrooms, parts of the culture and products incorporating the culture of the invention are provided.

The present disclosure provides for, and includes, environments for the production, transport and storage of agricultural products including, but not limited to, fruits, vegetables, grains, tubers, decorative plants, flowers and mushrooms. The present disclosure also relates to methods of preparing environments for the preservation and production of agricultural products Also provided are organic agricultural products having reduced levels of microorganisms and residual organic compounds.