6 (79) oO ay @ (3) () oy (2) 8) 69) @ United States Patent Miller CULTIVATION OF MORCHELLA. Inventor: Stewart C. Miller, 1521.9 St, Lafayette, IN (US) 47905, Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis patent is extended or adjusted under 35 USC. 158(b) by 231 days Appl. No. 10/603,525, Filed: Jun, 25, 2008, Prior Publication Data Us 200801050030 AL Apt 1, 2004 Related U.S. Application Data Comtauation-in-psof aplication No. 10/180.690, Hed on AOIG 1/08 amt Fleld of Search 47/14, S81 R References Cited USS, PATENT DOCUMENTS. 3985960 A 1976 Hom ata Saetaas A 8107 Piackad Aso0312 A 3/1086 Mugnie ta 757/40 A 7/1988. Ower, docesed eta ‘A 1980 Schindler Sio2608 A 6I1901 Mare th Sumo A 1/1993 Ianerte Sa7so2 A 6/1905 Romaine otal 5938012 A 811999 Holle eta FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS aone27 A2* 1987 AMGi7« Us0069s107482 US 6,951,074 B2 Oct. 4, 2005 (20) Patent No. (5) Date of Patent: we ons sy1998 a» U21s67s S198 » 2o0o0e2583 42000, (OTHER PUBLICATIONS “Phosphate Activity of External Hyphae of Two Arbuscular -Mycorthizal Fungi" Joner etl; Mycological Research 108, No. 1 2040); pp 81-86. “Endophytic Fungi Associated with Palms", Frohlich eta Mycological Research 108, No, 10 (2000); pp. 1202-1212. The Mushroom Handbook", Louis C.C. Krieger, Dober Publications, un. 1967; pp. 20-21, 32-39, 56-57, Plates 26 & 27. “Answorth & Bishy’s Dictionary ofthe Fungi” Hawksworth etal; CAB International Publishing (Continued) Primary Esaminer-—Teri Pham Law ‘Assistant Examiner—Francis , Palo (74) Auorney, Agent, or Firm—Baker & Daniels on ABSTRACT A process for cultivating Morchella ascocamps wsing myce- lium and a tree seedling, the tree seedling having. a root system and a shoot system, The process includes the steps of inoculating the root system with the aycelium to produce aa inoculated tree seedling; stimulating the mycelium to form selerotia by distressing the inoculated uve seedling: and inducing the sclerotia to produce ascocarps by providing conditions conceive to the formation of ascocarps, Alo, the growth of tres may be accelerated by inoculating the root system with the mycelium. Further more, a process for cultivating Morchelasclerotia using mycelium and 2 tree seeding, the tree seedling having a root system and a shoot system icludes the steps of inoculating the root system with the mycelium to produce an inoculated tee seedling; and simulating the mycelium wo form sclerotia by disteessing the inoculated wee seedling. 15 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets @ of § Drawing Sheet(s) Filed in Color)US 6,951,074 B2 Page 2 ‘OTHER PUBLICATIONS “Mushrooms of Northeastem North America”, Bessette et al Print Net (1997); pp. 476-47 “Allelic Variation and Segregation in Morchella deiciosa and M, Esculenta", Gessner etal; Mycologia, vol. 79, No. 5 (1987); pp. 683-087 “A rapid Staining Method for Detection of Endophytic Fungi in Turf and Forage Grasses”, Saha etal; The Ameri ‘can Phytopathological Society, vol. 78, No. 2, (1988); pp. 237-230, “Distribution and Molecular Characterization of the Root Endophyte Phialocephala Fortinii Along an Enviroameatal Gradient in the Boreal Forest of Alberts”, Addy et al; Mycological Reseatch 104, No, 10 (2000); pp. 1213-1221 Website information from wowirulleree.com for New World ‘Trufferes, Ine. “Trutle Cubivation Specialists’, Copyright 2003. * cited by examinerU.S. Patent Oct. 4, 2005 Sheet 1 of 5 US 6,951,074 B2 FIG. 1C FIG, 2B FIG. 1B 10 FIG. 2A 5) FIG. 1AUS 6,951,074 B2 Sheet 2 of 5 Oct. 4, 2005 U.S. Patent a¢ ‘Dla aoU.S. Patent Oct. 4, 2005 Sheet 3 of 5 US 6,951,074 B2 FIG4U.S. Patent Oct. 4, 2005 Sheet 4 of 5 US 6,951,074 B2 FIGsUS 6,951,074 B2 Sheet 5 of 5 Oct. 4, 2005 U.S. Patent 91a ANSNAOTSATG VILOWaTOS: 8 ‘SNOILIGNOD AMITONTUES. /SOIAO Yd ‘NOLLINGOWd ‘EAVDOISY ONISNGNI mae WAISAS LOO WOU WAISAS.LOOHS ¥2AaS = SARL ALVNIAWAL ‘NOLLVWWOS YILOWITNS BLY TNWLIS a TNOSVaS LNosvas ONIMOWO “SAM |e] onimoud -saUL CALVINOONI MOWD aLYINDONI MOY SMU GALVINOONI sonriaaas ANVTUSNVEL WAISAS LOOW ALVINDONI ONITAAS 2PUL 40 'NOLLVTNOONI 9 se We: ra ] warrz3aw ONITAaaS AML ‘SLVALINO |LVALLINO.US 6,951,074 B2 1 CULTIVATION OF MORCHELLA ‘This application is Continuation-in-Pset of US. applic cation Ser. No. 10/180,650 filed Jun. 26, 2002, entitled CULTIVATION OF MORCHELLA. FIELD OF THE INVENTION ‘This invention relates othe cultivation of any ofthe fungi ‘species of the Family Morchellaceue a the genera March lla. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The edible fungi species of the genera Morchella ate known by their ascocarp of Imuiting body. The ascocirp epresents the mature embodiment ofthe sexual reprodve- tion eyele of the morel and is lined with tiny, microscopic ‘elongated sacs, each of which sealed an ascus, Inside each ascus are microscopic spores lined up like small eggs, approximately eight spores per ascus. These spores escape from the lid of the ascus and take to the aie marking the beginning of the life eyele ofthe morel mushroom. When the spores land on an appropriate food source, such as moist, ‘dea, rotting of decaying plant lif, the spores will “hatch” producing small hair-like structures called hyphae. The hyphae begin to spread throughout the food soutse produe- ing aa interwoven mat or feeding network called mycelium. ‘The byphic’s absorption of nutrients from the non-living food source demonstrates the saprophytic nature of the ‘movel. Under certain, unfavorable conditions, this mycelium ‘contacts to form hardened protective bodies called seleo= tia. The sclroia then lie dormant until favorable conditions arise. During favorable conditions, the scleratia develop ascocarps, The ascocarps of the Family Morchellaceae, especially those of morchella esculenta, morchella deliciosa, morch- cella crassipes,elata, semi-libria, and morchella angusticeps “black” have becn highly sought after fo many years and are considered to be the most delicious ofall mushrooms. Every spring thousands of morel hunters take to the woods in search of the everchisive more, also known as the “sponge mushroom,” Ia fact ertaia towns in Michigan bold ‘mushroom festivals every pring to celebrate the opportunity to take to the woods and find this delicious. morsel Unfortunately, tbe fuiting of the more occurs naturally only under select conditions, thereby Timing the availabilty of this highly sought after delicacy. In addition, the sclerotia themselves are also a sought- ater delicacy. Unfortunately, because naturally-occurring Sclerotia ae formed underground, they are difficult to locate and harvest. Ta fat, the harvesting of Morchellaceae sele- ria often requires the use of tained animals, such as dogs. Duc to the difficulty in loeating and harvesting Morchel- Taceae sclerota, the cos of such seleroia i extemely high Processes centered around the saprophytic nature of the morel have been suggested for commercially cultivating morels, Such processes include that deseribed in U.S. Pa. No, 4,757,640. However, these processes have not proven 0 be suecessful in the commercial production ofthese mush- rooms of the sclrota, cither inthe field or in envioamen- tally conteolled conditions. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ‘The present invention provides a process for cultivating Morchellaceae ascocarps sing mycelium and a tree seedling, the tee seedling having a root system and 4 shoot % o 2 system, The process involves inacvlating the root syste with mycelium to produce an inoculated tree seedling, stimulating the mycelium to form selerotia, and inducing the selerotia to prohice ascocarps. Te present invention also provides @ process for cul vating Morchellaceae scleroia using mycelium and a tree seeding, the tree seedling having a root system and a shoot system, The process involves inoculating the raot system ‘with mycelium to produce an inoculated tree seeding, simulating the mycelium to form selerota. ‘The present invention further provides a process for accelerating the growth of trees by inoculating the root system of the tre with mycelium. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The file of this patemt contains at Teast one drawing «executed in color. Copies ofthis patent with color drawings will be provided by the Patent and Trademark Office upon request and payment of the necessary fe, The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become moze apparent aod the invention ise will be beter understood by reference 10 the following description of embodiments of te invention taken in conjunction with the fsccompanying deawings, wherein FIGS, La-te ilisteate the inoculation step of the present invention according to one embodiment. FIGS, 24-26 illustrate the inoculation step of the present invention according 16 another embodiment FIGS, 30-3 illustrate the inoculation step of the present invention according to yet another embodiment. FIG. 4 is a photograph illustrating mycelium. FIG. $ is a photograph ilusirating an inoculated soot system, FIG. 6 i a flow chart of the process of the present invention according to one embodiment. Conesponding reference characters indicate correspond ing pars throughout the several views. Although the draw ings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features ‘may be exaggerated in order to better iMustate and explain the present invention, The exemplifcations sct out herein illustrate embadimenis of the invention and such exempl fications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in aay manner DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE, INVENTION The embodiments disclosed below ae not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms dis- closed in the following detailed description, Ratber, the ‘embodiments are chosen and deserved so that others skilled in the art may utilize the teachings. ‘The prescat inventor has discovered tht saprophytism is ‘only one ofthe characteristis exhibited dung the growth cycle of the morel fungus. During its life eyele, the morel also demonstrates mutvaism, For example, i the ease ofthe pple tee the spores ofthe morel atch on a rotting apple The mycelium, acting as a saprobe, absorbs nutrients from the rotting apple. Next, the byphae ofthe mycelium spread from the rotting apple to the fot ofthe apple tee seed. The root of the apple tree then begins poking its way into the ‘ground taking the hyphae with it ‘The developing fungus begins it's mutualistic behavior, also refered to a8 mycontizal phase, when the hyphae ofUS 6,951,074 B2 7 the mycelium invade the root of the tre, working its way Into the cells ofthe oot system. The mutualistic association between the mycelium and the tee root can be reetred 10 ‘generally as mycorthiza. Once the myeelium has completely ‘entered the root cells ofthe eee the mutualistic association Js then refered to as endomycorriza, or an endophyte Through the mycelial inoculation of the roots ofthe tee a symbiotic mycorrhizal or endomycorehizal relationship develops over time. The fungus and tee coexist together 10 form a mutualistic relationship, or symbiosis. The tree provides the mycorthiza fungus with a food source from the fruit or sap. The fungus, in urn, promotes healthy growth of the tee by transfering water and nutrients from the soil, Which the lee would otherwise have dificult obtaining. "The present inventor has further discovered that both the ttee andthe morel fungus coexist inthis mutualistic manner ‘until the relationship is disrupted, Such discuption ean be the result of many things inckuding: the te losing its sap or the ‘death of the tee, sich as by the infection of Dutch-Elm disease. Whether the disruption is natural o¢ initiated, the mycorthizas recognize the loss of their food source’ and respond defensively by retracting the mycelium into & sclerotic nodule. The mycelium retraction initiates the development of the selrotia, which ultimately produces the ascocarp or fruiting body when the time and conditions are right ‘This discovery has lead to one embosliment of the present invention, which provides a process for cultivating Morch- cella ascocarps using a tree seedling having a root system and 4 shoot system, and Morchella: mycelium, The process ‘generally involves inoculating the root system with Moreh ella mycelium to produce an inoculated tree seeing, stimn- lating the mycelium to form scleotia, and inducing the sclerotia to produce ascocarps, ‘The inoculation step generally calls for inoculating the root system of tree seedling with mycelium, The mycelium used in the inoculation step may be ablained using several “lifferent cultivation methods Tn one embodiment, the mycelium is cultivated by intro ‘ducing one or more spores onto a culture medium and ‘incubating the spores until the spores produce mycelium. ‘This cultivation of mycelium may be accomplished by placing dried ascocarps of whole, unwashed, and fresly Picked morel mushrooms in paper bags. ‘The paper bags prevent moisture from being trapped inside the ascocarps, thereby impeding ot or bacteria growth onthe ripened and dried spores. The spores may be saved for short periods of time, without any adverse alfect on spore germination, by placing the paper bags in 4 refrigerator. ‘Aa acceptable culture medium is then prepared. Acoept= able culture media include standard mycological culture media sold by laboratory supply houses. Such mycological culture medium is composed primarily of simple carbohy= ‘rates and gelatin, and is easily attainable and extremely reliable by vir ofits nutrient consistency and its sterility. Altematvely, the culture medium can consist simply of hatural carbohydrates or decaying plant material The culture medium is them introduced into containers, such as Petri lses, ars and plastic, foam, o¢ peat cups. To promote elficieney aad eliminate waste, biodegradable seed ‘contziners may also be used as culture medium containers ‘These containers typically consist of a paper-based, ceardboard-like material that decomposes in the ground after time. These biodegradable containers promote elliiency because the container and the inoculated trce seedling that ullimately is produced in the container (as described infra % o 4 paragraph 0034) can be planted directly into the ground. To Keep out competing fungi and hacteria, it is beneficial to use containers that have lids. Alternatively, the containers can be tighlly stacked to preveat invading competition ‘As shown in FIG. 1a, the ascocarps 2 are removed from the paper bag and shaken over the top of the eulture medium ‘fie a salishaker. The spores 3 land densely over the culture medium 4 aoxl ae spread over or stitted ito the culture medium 4 using a sterile fork. Alternatively, tiny pieces bout the sizeof a peneil head may be eu from the ascocarps and placed on top of, or inside of, the eulture medium. ‘The spore-containing culture medium is then allowed t0 incubate at a temperature in the range of about appro mately 0° C-37.8° C. (32° F100” F), 10 allow the spor 3 to develop a network of mycelium 5, 36 shown in FIGS. Ib & 4. Although the mycelium can develop at any tem- perature within this range, the mycelium development is ‘optimal when the spores are incubated at a temperature Within the range of 72° C239" C, (45° E15" F). ‘Typically inthis temperature range, the growth rate of the mycelium in the medium during’ incubation is directly rapertiona to the temperature. That, the mycelium grows ‘more rapidly when incubated at temperatures in the higher end of this range, Mycelium can develop alter as litle as 24 hhoues of incubation, However, to insure a substantial supply fof mycelium, the mycelium is incubated for one t0 two ‘weeks. AS showin in FIG, 4 coafiemation of mycelium caltvation may be observed by viewing under the miero- scope at 100% The tree sedlings used in the present invention ean be cither germinated from seeds, or can be purchased from nurseries. Any compatible tree seedling may be used. Such compatible ree seedlings include, but are not limited 10, elm, ash, oak, peach, poplar, douglas fir, eboery and apple ‘While many different typesof tree seedlings can be used, the elm tee is inexpensive, expendable, produces a voluminous amount of seed, and is easy to germinate. The elm tree is ccosidered expendable because DuteioElm disease has reduced the elm’s life expectancy to a minimum, Some old surviving elms stil exist, which produce vast amounis of seed, The expendable and plentiful elm seeds provide @ {good conduit for the successful production of the morel ‘mushroom, because its the ultimate death of the tree that stimulates the formation of sclertia, and ultimately the production ofthe ascocaep. Several methods ean be used to inoculate the te seed lings. For instance, in one embodiment shown in FIG. Le, the root system 7 of the tree seedling 6 is introduced inta the mycelium S-containing culture medium 4, and the resulting culture medium 4 containing the mycelivm $ andl the root system 7 is incubated until the mycelium $ bas inoculated the root system 7. More specifically the ree seedlings 6 are placed in the conianers 8 of incubating mycelium $ so that {he rots 7 are covered withthe cultivating medium 4, The roots ofthe tree seudlings 6 may be beat or euced at the same time to insure tha they are substantially enveloped by the culture medium 4. The seedlings 6 and mycelium § are ‘incubated inthe cuture medium 4 until the root system 7 is adequately inoculated with the mycelium S. The seedlings ‘may be incubated at a temperature within the range of O° C.-37.8° C, G2? F100" F), although adequate inoculation ‘occurs more predictably when incubated at « temperature within the range of 7.2° C-239° C. (45° E75 F). The seedings ae watered sparingly an excess water is drained away to prevent over watering. Adequate inoculation usually ‘occurs within about 1 lo 20 days, and can he confirmed iecoscopically at 100-400 after soaking the root seumentUS 6,951,074 B2 5 with @ 1:1 (gram fo mL) ratio of rose bengal and distilled ‘water (sodium hydroxide ean be used to thin the staining Solution) for about 3 10 20 mines, flattening the root Segment between to slides, and viewing the rot segment through a green filter; an example of which is shown in FIG. S.FIG. §isa 40x microscopic photograph of the byphae of 4 spore entering the root of the tee Seoul Tnanatber embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 20-26, a layer ‘of any acceptable planting medium 10 placed on top ofthe imyeclium S.containing culture medium 4 and at least one twee wed 12 is placed on top of, or within the layer of planting medium 10. Acceptable planting. medium is any ‘medium that fosters the germination of a tee seed and the ‘growth of the tree seedling. Acceptable planting media Tnclude, but sre oot limited to: soil, compost, manure, hums, peat moss, processed paper, lp, sphagmum, perlite, ‘synthetic material and mixtures thereof. The seed 12 is thes Jncubated for period of 1 to 30 days to allow the seed 12 to germinate into a tee seedling 6. The tee seedling 6 is grown uniil the ool system 7 ofthe tee seeing 6 spreads Into the mycelium S-containing culture medium 4 (FIG. 2b)and becomes adequately inoculated with the mycelium, ‘Adequate inoculation is iustated in FIG. § and in this ‘embodiment usually occurs within about 1 to 30 days. ‘Adequate inoculation ean be tested microscopically a >. descibed above, Tn yet another embodiment shown ia FIGS. 34-3f, a planting medium 10 is pluced in a container or pot 14 having od detinage, such as a clay, plastic, or biodegradable pot, fnd small hole 15 is scooped out of the planting medium as more particularly shown in FIG. 3a. As illustrated in FIG. 3b, a biodegradable container 16 of spore 3-contxining ‘eure medium 4 is placed in the bole of the planting ‘medium 10 so thatthe culture medium 4 is substantially level with the top of the plsoting medium 10, The culture medium 4 and planting medium 10 are then covered with @ Jayer, approximately one-half inch deep, of an acceptable ‘germinating medium 18, shown in FIG, 3c. An acceptable erminating medium 18 is any medium in which 4 we sccdling can germinate, Such germinating media include, but are not limited to: sol, compost, hUMUS, peat MOSS, ‘compressed peat moss dises, processed paper, perlite, sym- thetic material and any mixture theteo. It may be beneficial to use a sterile germinating medium 18 to deter invading bacteria and fungi The spores 3 are then incubated ual the spores 3 produce mycelium 8 (see FIG. 3d); about 1 10 30, days, a temperature witin inthe range of about approxi mately 0° C-35° C. (32° F-95" E), with a preferred temperature witin the range of about 7.3" C23." C. (45° P-15" F). At Teast one tee sed 12s then placed on fop of or within the germinating medium 18 (sce FIG. 3e), and the seed 12 js incubated until the seed 12 germinates into a tee seedling 6 as shown in FIG. 3f. The seed 12 and resulting tree seedling 6 ate watered, although relatively sparingly and ‘excess Water should be drained away to prevent over water- ng. As shown in FIG. 3, the tree seedling 6 is grown unt the root system 7 spreads into the myeclium Sconttining culture medium 4 and root system 7 becomes adequately Jnoctlated with the mycclium 5, Adequate infection in this ‘embovdiment usually occurs within about 1 0 30 days, and fs illustrated in FIG. 8, Altematively, the mycelium and the tee seedling may be cultivated simultaneously. In this embodiment, the spores fe introduced onto a cultuee medium and a tree seed is Introduced into a planting medium. The seed and the spores ace simultaneously incubated until the spores produce the % o 6 ycelium and the tree seed yerminates into a ive seedling, deally, the seeds will geminate in approximately the same petiod of time, approximately 1 (© 30 days, as the spores. ‘Then, the tee seedling i placed in the culture medium and the culture medium is incubated until the mycelium has adequately inoculated the root system. Adequate inoculation inthis embodiment usually occurs within about ane to 30 days after the oat contacts the mycelium culture (Other methods of inoculating tree seedings include inj ‘ng hyphae or mycelium directly ito the roots of the tree seeding. Alternatively, tre seedlings may be inoculated by ataling or notching a portion of an infected root or shoot ‘onl an uninfected tree seedling. Tee seedings may also be Inoculated by growing the tree seedling in close proximity to an infected tee Tn one embodiment, after inoculation ofthe tre seeing and before the stimulation of selerotia, the inoculated tree seedlings are planted in prepared fields or in containers and allowed to grow for at least one growing season. An appro- brite prepared field should have good water drainae 10 prevent standing water or puddles. Mealy, the soil of the prepared feld should be finely tilled and have a dark, rch, sandy, loam quality, Ifthe nutrients in the soil sem to be lacking, additional nutcints may be added by sprinkling @ fertilizer over the soil and tilling the fertilizer into the soi. ay be helpful to leave narcow grassy lanes between the rows of clustered scedlings to allow the mancuvering of equipment for mulching, watering and other purposes. Mulching by mowing the grass and letting moderate amounts of clippings accumulate aroun! the trees may assist jn maintaining a cool and damp environment forthe roots, and may help to eliminate competing grasses and weeds Io {dition shading (providing shad) the seedlings may also assist in maintaining a coo! and damp environment for the "The scedings ae allowed to grove in the prpared fields ‘orinwoors for atleast one growing season. A grawing season ‘equates to approximately one year. Alhougl the seedlings ‘may be planted any time before the frst frost, September is fan idea time to plant the seedlings, because this allows the woe seedling to establish iiself riot 10 the frost, thus enabling the seedling o withstand the trials of winter and the tials of the summer months of the following year. The seedlings may be covered with mulch for added protection in the winter months. In an effort to protect the oot of the tre Seeding during the summer months of the growing season or scasons, the seedings should be supplied with water and mulch, and competition from weeds or grass should be minimize. ‘Although the seedlings ean tolerate ful sunlight for the fentie the day they will gro with betler success in full ‘morning sun and late afternoon shade. Special eare shoul be taken to protect the seedings from temperatures that rise above 29.4° C. (85° F), Specifically, greenhouses should be ‘well venilated to remove excess heat during the summer ‘months, and should provide mottled or translucent shade, up {o 50%: In greenhouses and in fields, automated watering systems may be used to cool the delicate roots of the seedling and the developing Morchella mycorrhias during times of exireme heat. Mulching around the plants helps to protect the root system from heat and deying Although the tee seedlings may be grown for only one growing season before stimulating sclrotia formation, mye- frthizal growth and uliimately the number of selerotia {ormed is directly proportional tothe expanse and growth of the trees root system, Consequently, the longer the inocu-US 6,951,074 B2 1 Jated root system i allowed to grow and expand, the greater the number ofsclerota formed and the lager the subsequent harvest of ascocarps. Therefore, a higher yiekd may be ‘obtained by growing the inoculted tee seedlings for more than one growing season, ‘Aller one or more growing seasons has elapsed, the mycelium is stimulated to form selertia, This stimulation ‘Step may be accomplished by distressing the tree. The tees ae distressed in late spring or in early summer to allow the imyeclium to react snd form selerotia before winter. Each ‘developing scleretia will locate itself at-a point closest 10 ‘ground level and will eventually separate entirely from the ‘dying roots, The scleotia will complete its maturation ‘during the summer or fall and then Tie dormant during the ‘winter awaiting the ideal conditions of spring before trans= forming iself into an ascocarp. After the tees have bee! 8 seedings are cultivated 22, both of which ean be cultivated Simultaneously a discussed above. Next, the root system of the tree seeing in inoculated 23. Once inoculated, the tree sccdlings ac transplanted 24, The transplanted seedlings or trees are grown for two growing seasons 28, 26. Then, slerotia formation is stimulated 27 by terminating the tres, ‘whiet may be accomplished by severing the shoot system from the rot system. The sclerotia is the allowed to develop 28, for approximately one half of growing season, Finally, ‘scocarp production is induced 29 by providing springlike conditions aon the ascocarps ean be harvested in late spring In some exses, a secondary crop of ascocarps are prodced in the spring of the following year and may be harvested, ‘Table 1, below is a Time Table representing the cultivation process summarized in FIG. 6 TABLET Yen Year# Development sping tad tleonce fonmuion sos tert development terminated the developing sclerotia under the ground may be ‘covered with mulch and watered to protect the developing ‘sclertia from draught Several different methods may be used to distres the tee For instance, in one embodiment, the tee is distressed by ‘severing the shoot system of the tre from the eoot systen In this embodiment, the shoot system of the tre is cu ff at ‘or Slightly above ground level, Tis disrupts the symbiotic felationship, thereby stimulating the Formation of the sele- roti Other methoxls for distessing the tee include: defotisting the wee by burning the tre or docking the branches: inrodueing disease, such as Dutch Elm disease; smothering the leaves ofthe ee, such as by spraying the leaves with @ ‘stoma-blocking substance; and impeding photesymbesis. Next, the developed sclerotia are induced to form asco ‘carps. Spring typieally provides conditions that are condu- ceive to this inducement step. These conditions include ‘steadily warming weather with temperatures in the range of ahout 65° Fto about 85° F and sufficient amounts of water, ‘Although these conditions typically oceur naturally in ‘pring, these conditions may be simulated in. an indoor, climate controlled environment. During peti of exteemes in eat or drought, the field of cultivating ascocarps should be watered regularly. Continued daily watering during this period and during the sprouting phase of the ascocarps ‘Should continue until the ascocarps have reached the! ‘maximum size, which typically oacurs within about four 10 five days of the initial sprout, The ascocarps can then be harvested and packaged for ransport to a marketplace. FIG. 6 flow chart summarizing the steps all of which have been described in detail above, involved in cultivating Morchella ascocarps acconing to one embodiment of the present invention. Firs, mycelium is cultivated 21 and tree rowing Sesto 1 (coined) Growing Savon 2 (cote % Troouon snd gon of Rost ‘Thmpant_Groving Soon 1 Sie seolng Growing Sos Teemintion "Deehpest and ites of Scleotia ote Hae Tn another embodiment ofthe present invention, eather than inducing the formation of ascocarps, the selon are harvested. More particulary, after one or more growing seiuons bis elapsed the mycelium stimulated 10 1 Seles, This stimulation sep may be accomplished distressing the tee as discussed above. The tes ae di tresed In late pring or in erly summer to allow the eum eat an om Sco lr wie ach pvelping sclerotia will cae sell at 2 pont closes 0 ground level and wll venally separate erly frm the ying roo. The sclerota wll compete ts maturation cir the summer or fal, ner whic the sclera are iarvested by digging up the selerta, Since the sclerola develop the rots of the known inocula ee seedling, they a relatively easy o locate and karst. 0 anole aspect ofthis invention the Morcella Tum is used w tecclerate gee geowt, As discissed above, the present inventor has dissovere that Morchells myes. liu forms a mutualistic elalionship withthe rot system of =. Whil he te provides be fungus with food source Sch 35 fit or sap, te ngs aids he e's oot system in the uplae of water and autients fro the soi, This dis ovcry has eto an embodiment of the present avention in ‘which tte grow is occlerted by inoeatng the root "jiem ofthe ire wih mycelium, Such inoculation may be Sccomplisied using the methods deseribod above, Such {noculsed tees demonirat an ial growth rate of about thre times that of ron inoculated ices For example, wa tlm ue seedlings were inoculated. withthe. Mlorchella mycelium and grown in pols for one growing season (Gay-Octobe), the average height of 50 inoculated tees ‘was about 47.5 em (19 inehes), whereas the erage beght OF 30 uninoculated toes was cay about 15 cm (@ inches) ‘This method for accelerating tee growth can be caitemely betelcal to nuneries inthe development aid fale of tees, This method may ako be Beneficial i the ‘esirtion of developed, desttoyed or lopped forests atid Tanibeape,US 6,951,074 B2 7 While this invention has been described as having a ‘exemplary desiga, the present invention may be further ‘mxliied within the spirit and scope of this disclosure, This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, oF adaptations of the invention using is general Principles. Further, his application is intended to cover such epartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the ae to which this iven- tion pertains ‘What is claimed is L.A process for cultivating Morchella seierotia using mycelium and a tree seedling, the process comprisng the steps of: inoculating a root system of the tee seedling. with the ‘mycelium f0 produce an inoculated tree seedling; listressng a shoot system of the inoculated tee seeing, ‘id step of distressing the shoot system causing a least 4 portion of the root system to di and Stimulating the formation of scerozia from the mycelium in the dying soot systems and harvesting the sclecotia by removing the sclrotia prior to the formation ofan ascocarp. 2. The process of claim I further comprising the step of culivating the mycelium by the steps of: {ntoducing spores onto a culture medium; and Jncubating the spores uatil the spores prxiuce the myee= iva, 3. The process of claim 2 wherein said step of inoculating the root system with the mycelium comprises ‘ntoducing the root system of the tee seeding into the culture medium; and incubating the culture medium unt inoculated the root system, 4. The process of cluim 2 witercin said step of inoculating the rot system with the mycelium comprises: adding planting medium on op of the culture medium; placing at least one tree seed on top of the planting ‘medium; germinating the tree seed into the Wee seed= lings and rowing the tte seeding until the rot system is inocu lated with the mycelium, 5, The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of cullvating the mycelium by the step of ineoducing plurality of spores ino container of culture medium; ng the conta ‘medium; the mycelium has pls r of culture medium in a planting 10 covering the culture medium and the pl ‘with a germinating medium; and incubating the spores until the spores produce the myce= lium 6. The process of claim 5 wherein said step of inoculating the root system with the mycelium comprises placing at least one tree sced inthe germinating medium; ‘germinating the tree seed into the true seedling; and growing the tree seeding until the root system is inocu Fated with the mycelium. 7. The process of lain L wherein said step of inoculating the 100! system comprises inoxucing spores onto a culture medium; inoducing a te seed into a planting medium; Simultaneously ineubuting the spores and the te seed until the spores produce the mycelium and the tree seed ‘germinates ino the free seedling; placing the tree seedling on the culture medium; and incubating the culture mediues until the mycelium bas inoculated the root system, 8. The process of claim 1 wherein said step of inoculating the root system with the mycelium comprises injecting the myocium into die tee seedling, 9, The process of elaia L wherein said step of inoculating the coot system with the mycelium comprises grafting. a portion of an inoculated tree seeing onto the tee seedling, 10, The process of claim 1 wherein said step of inocu: lating the root system with the mycelium comprises growing the tree seedling in close proximity 1 an inoculated tree. 1 The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of growing the inoculated tee seedling forat least one growing 12, The process of claim I wherein said step of disteessing ashoo! system comprises severing the shoot system from the root system, 13. The process of elaim I wherein said stop of distcessing 4 Shoot system comprises defoiating the 1, 14, The process of claim I wherein the shoot system ofthe ‘woe seedling comprises leaves and said step of distressing a shoot system comprises smothering the leaves. 15. The process of claim 1 wherein distressing the shoot system of the tre secling comprises allowing sclerotia to develop for atleast one growing season ater distressing the shoot system. medi