Textile compositions comprising at least one filamentous fungus are disclosed, as are methods for making and using such textile compositions. Embodiments of the textile compositions generally include at least one of a plasticizer, a polymer, and a crosslinker, in addition to the filamentous fungus. The disclosed textile compositions are particularly useful as analogs or substitutes for conventional textile compositions, including but not limited to leather.

A box transfer apparatus for an automated harvesting system is provided, the box transfer apparatus comprising: a frame; a plurality of trays to support a plurality of boxes; and a box gripper moveable within the frame using a gantry coupled to the frame; wherein the box gripper is configured to grasp boxes and move the grasped boxes between the frame and an adjacent frame used to convey the boxes to be used in receiving picked items from the automated harvesting system. A stem gripper for an automated harvesting system is also provided, the stem gripper comprising: a housing comprising at least one motor; a pair of contoured fingers operable by the at least one motor to rotate above a common axis to grasp stems of items picked by the automated harvesting system; and a drive mechanism to move the stem gripper from a discard bin to a box for loading.

The present invention relates to a device for discharging mushrooms from a conveyor, comprising a mushroom conveyor, in particular a conveyor belt and/or an endless conveyor, for conveying the mushrooms in a direction of conveyance; wherein the mushroom conveyor has a surface for carrying the mushrooms; and the mushroom conveyor being guided along a trajectory from a charging location such as a picking location to a discharging location, such as a filling station for mushroom containers, as well as a twister, located at the discharging location, for at least locally twisting a plane in which the surface of the mushroom conveyor lies.

The present invention relates to a device for discharging mushrooms from a conveyor, comprising a mushroom conveyor, in particular a conveyor belt and/or an endless conveyor, for conveying the mushrooms in a direction of conveyance; wherein the mushroom conveyor has a surface for carrying the mushrooms; and the mushroom conveyor being guided along a trajectory from a charging location such as a picking location to a discharging location, such as a filling station for mushroom containers, as well as a twister, located at the discharging location, for at least locally twisting a plane in which the surface of the mushroom conveyor lies.

A method of generating multifunctional mycelium products (thread, foam, films, gels and liquids) derived from biodegraded waste and fungi includes inoculating a carbon-containing substrate with fungi; growing the fungi to form a mature mycelium; separating the mycelium from the carbon-containing substrate; and drying the mature mycelium. The mycelium is either injected into a mold and expanded, fermented to produce a liquid, or blended with water and gelling agents to form a hydrogel. The products sequester carbon and inherently combat pathogens, notably MRSA. Further augmented with synthetic enzyme substrates, the products offer bacterial detection. A standout feature is their capacity to hold and release therapeutic agents, diversifying their use from sustainable textiles to skincare, wound healing, and precise drug delivery.

A method of generating multifunctional mycelium products (thread, foam, films, gels and liquids) derived from biodegraded waste and fungi includes inoculating a carbon-containing substrate with fungi; growing the fungi to form a mature mycelium; separating the mycelium from the carbon-containing substrate; and drying the mature mycelium. The mycelium is either injected into a mold and expanded, fermented to produce a liquid, or blended with water and gelling agents to form a hydrogel. The products sequester carbon and inherently combat pathogens, notably MRSA. Further augmented with synthetic enzyme substrates, the products offer bacterial detection. A standout feature is their capacity to hold and release therapeutic agents, diversifying their use from sustainable textiles to skincare, wound healing, and precise drug delivery.

Disclosed is a chemical-physical method of producing mushrooms enriched with biologically active substances including steps of isolation and pre-seeding development of the mycelium of a desired fungal species, maturation of the substrate, mycelium sowing and incubation with development of fungal primordia under conditions controlled and assisted by machines and processors designed to adjust temperature, humidity and radiation, development of carpophores, their collection and treatment with pulsed light in order to stimulate the production of vitamin D2. Physical treatment includes exposing the environment to electromagnetic fields (EMF) during all the previous steps the collection, and chemical treatment includes adding the substrate with egg powder. After the mycelium sowing, the substrate is enriched with inorganic trace elements, with a result of obtaining officinal mushrooms that are provided with therapeutic capacities in particular in oncology field and, in general, adapted to counter cell degeneration in a variety of diseases.

A mushroom picking system includes a picking tool having a gripper for engaging a mushroom cap, and a cleaning unit for periodically cleaning the gripper.

The gripper has a wall part made of a flexible polymeric material defining a surface for engaging a mushroom cap. The cleaning unit has a blade defining a scraping edge configured to engage with the engaging surface of the gripper.