Fungal Leachate and Method of Making Same

1 . A fungal leachate solution containing a water soluble fraction of fungally colonized and decomposed lignocellulosic substrate.

2 . A method of producing a fungal leachate solution comprising the steps of

obtaining a feedstock of lignocellulosic substrate;

colonizing said substrate with a selected fungi; and

adding water to said colonized substrate to form a liquid medium containing at least one of sugar alcohol, a phenolic compound and a fatty acid.

3 . A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sugar alcohol is glycerin, said phenolic compound is 2,6 Dimethoxy phenol and said fatty acid is pentadecanoic acid.

4 . A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said liquid medium contains at least one of a carbonyl and a phenyl.

5 . A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said Carbonyl is one of heptanal and pentanal and said phenyl is benzoic acid.

6 . A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said feedstock is soaked in said water at room temperature for a period sufficient to leach water soluble compounds and which further comprises the step of thereafter removing solid substrate while retaining liquid leachate.

7 . A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said feedstock is soaked in said water and heated to a temperature of at least 180° Fahrenheit for a period sufficient to leach water soluble compounds and which further comprises the step of thereafter removing solid substrate while retaining liquid leachate.

8 . A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said feedstock is soaked in said water for a period sufficient to leach water soluble compounds and to form a slurry comprised of liquid leachate and solid substrate.

9 . A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said feedstock is dehydrated prior to said step of adding water.

10 . A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said feedstock of lignocellulosic substrate is comprised of spent mushroom substrate characterized in having had at least one flush of mature sporocarps harvested therefrom.

11 . A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said feedstock of lignocellulosic substrate is comprised of spent mushroom substrate characterized in not having had a flush of mature sporocarps harvested therefrom.

12 . A method comprising the steps of

obtaining a feedstock of lignocellulosic substrate;

colonizing said substrate with a selected fungi;

adding water to said colonized substrate to form a liquid medium containing at least one of sugar alcohol, a phenolic compound and a fatty acid;

inoculating said liquid medium with a selected fungus; and

thereafter incubating said inoculated liquid medium to effect metabolizing and colonization of said liquid medium.

13 . A method comprising the steps of

obtaining a feedstock of lignocellulosic substrate;

colonizing said substrate with a selected fungi;

adding water to said colonized substrate to form a liquid medium containing at least one of sugar alcohol, a phenolic compound and a fatty acid;

adding said liquid medium to a solid lignocellulosic substrate;

thereafter inoculating said solid lignocellulosic substrate with a selected fungus; and

thereafter incubating said inoculated lignocellulosic substrate to effect metabolizing and colonization of said lignocellulosic substrate.

14 . A fungal leachate solution containing a water soluble fraction of fungally colonized and decomposed rye straw.

15 . A method of producing a fungal leachate solution comprising the steps of

obtaining a feedstock of rye straw;

colonizing and decomposing said feedstock with a primary saprophyte; and

adding water to said colonized substrate to form a liquid medium.