Feeding mycelium

Fig. 1. Trichoderma harzianum colony forms ring structures on potato-dextrose agar white feeding mycelium (right) and green sporulating mycelium (left).

Polyethers such as monensin, lasalocid, salinomycin, and narasin are sold in many countries in crystalline or highly purified forms for incorporation into feeds or sustained-release bolus devices (see Controlled-RELEASE technology). There are also mycelial or biomass products, especially in the United States. The mycelial products are generally prepared by separation of the mycelium and then drying by azeotropic evaporation, fluid-bed driers, continuous tray driers, flash driers, and other types of commercial driers (163). In countries allowing biomass products, crystalline polyethers may be added to increase the potency of the product. 

Recovery of valuable products from penicillin, riboflavin, streptomycin, and vitamin B12 fermentation has been recommended as a viable waste control strategy when incorporated into animal feeds or supplements. Penicillin wastes, when recovered for animal feed, are reported to contain valuable growth factors, mycelium, and likewise evaporated spray-dried soluble matter [31,32,34]. 

Separate filtration of mycelium, drying and recovery of fermentation broth and mycelium for use as animal feed supplements. 

The major use of okara is livestock feed, however, there are various ways of using okara as food. For examples, in some parts of China, okara is salted and spiced and served as a pickle, or simply made into a dish with meat or vegetable. In other parts of China, okara is pressed into cakes and allowed to ferment for 10-15 days until covered with the white mycelium of Rhizopm mold. The cakes are dried in the sun and then deep-fried or cooked with vegetables. A similar product, known as tempeh gembus, is also popular in Indonesia. Sometimes, okara may be mixed with soybeans before fermentation. 

Discussion Straw mites have soft translucent pinkish or yellowish bodies punctuated by long flexible hairs. One female is capable of producing 500 eggs in a lifetime. Commonly found in hay or straw piles, these saprophytic mites are endemic to foul compost. They feed on molds and bacterial contaminants of the mushroom crop and also eat mycelium and mushrooms, making small irregular pits in the stem and cap. These pits can later become infected by bacteria. 

In bulk substrates such as compost or plain straw, nematodes can be found in great numbers. The high temperatures of Phase I conditioning would normally destroy them if it were not for the fact they migrate to the cooler outer shell of the compost pile. Phase II can eliminate nematodes but only if the entire compost is subjected to pasteurization temperatures. In a properly prepared and thoroughly pasteurized substrate, the mushroom mycelium consumes all free water and then feeds on the bacterial population. This creates a "bacteriostatic environment", which effectively limits nematode growth capabilties. In an uneven substrate with overly wet and dry areas, however, the nematode s ability to breed increases. Wet areas are particularly suitable for... 

Holzapfel and co-workers carried out some preliminary biosynthetic work and identified via C-labeled precursor feeding studies that this substance is fashioned from tryptophan, mevalonic acid, and acetate [77]. These workers were able to demonstrate further that )3-cyclopiazonic acid is a biosynthetic precursor to a-cyclopiazonic via biosynthetic radiolabeling of j -cyclopiazonic acid and efficient incorporation of this precursor into a-cyclopiazonic acid. In addition, it was noted that j9-cyclopiazonic acid is present in the mycelium at a stage when only traces of a-cyclopiazonic acid can be detected. The concentration of -cyclopiazonic acid then rapidly decreases as the a-cyclopiazonic acid concentration increases and seems to indicate clearly a temporal separation of the biosynthetic steps. 

In connection with work on animal protein factors, it was found that chlortetracycline fermentation mash containing some vitamin Bi2 gave growth responses well above those obtained with supraoptimal levels of vitamin Bi2 alone. At the present time, both chlortetracycline and oxytetracycline are used extensively for growth stimulation and improvement of feed efficiency in poultry and hogs, and for the reduction of losses from certain disease conditions. Purified antibiotics as well as dried fermentation residues with the mycelium of Streptomyces aureofaciens are used for these purposes. Tetracyclines, used as animal feed supplements, are selling for about 60/kg. 

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