AU2003284974B2

AU2003284974B2 - Method for pearl culture stimulated by proteins of mother-of-pearl origin

Info

Publication number: AU2003284974B2
Application number: AU2003284974A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Robert Wan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-12
Filing date: 2003-07-10
Publication date: 2007-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2023-07-10
Also published as: FR2843277B1; AU2003284974A1; NZ538022A; FR2843277A1; WO2004016078A1

Description

4 1 A METHOD OF CULTURING PEARLS STIMULATED BY NACRE- ORIGINATING PROTEINS The present invention relates to a method of culturing pearls.

It is known that a nacre-producing receiver mollusk is used to culture pearls, said mollusk generally being a receiver oyster having a gonad pouch into which a nucleus is introduced. During initial grafting, i.e. when the receiver oyster receives a nucleus for the first time, a graft is also added in the form of a small piece of mantle from a donor oyster. During subsequent grafting, i.e. when the receiver oyster has already produced a first pearl, a second nucleus is introduced into the gonad pouch of the receiver oyster, and generally it is not necessary to insert another graft.

Whether during initial grafting or subsequent grafting, in general no significant deposit of nacre is obtained until a little more than one year has elapsed since the nucleus was introduced, and in order to obtain a quality pearl it is generally necessary to wait at least two years.

An object of the invention is to provide a method making it possible to accelerate the formation of the deposit of nacre on the nucleus and to improve its quality.

The invention provides a method comprising a step of introducing a stimulating solution of associated nacreoriginating proteins and molecules into the gonad pouch.

By adding this step to the traditional grafting method, whether during initial grafting or subsequent grafting, it is found that formation of the nacre deposit accelerates substantially in so far as a significant deposit of nacre is obtained only a few months after the nucleus is introduced into the gonad pouch of the receiver oyster.

In order to implement the method of the invention, it is appropriate to begin by preparing the stimulating 4 2 solution containing the associated nacre-originating proteins and molecules. When culturing pearls using an oyster, firstly a plate of nacre is obtained by sanding off the outer layers of an oyster shell until the iridescent color of the nacre appears. Then, plates of descaled nacre are reduced to powder, for example, by sawing and grinding said plates of nacre, and it is preferable to select the powder fraction that has a grain size of less than 50 pm. The resulting nacre powder is put into contact with ultra-pure or pyrogen-free water by soaking the powder in ultra-pure water, at a concentration in the range of 25 grams to 100 g of powder per 100 milliliters (mL) of water, depending on the grain size of the powder, the mixture being stirred continuously for about twenty hours. The resulting mixture is centrifuged and then filtered in order to separate the solid portion from the liquid portion and retain only the liquid portion which makes up the stimulating solution containing the associated proteins and molecules.

The method of the invention can then be implemented in different ways. In a preferred first implementation, the nucleus is soaked in the stimulating solution prior to being introduced into the gonad pouch of the pearlproducing oyster.

In a second implementation that can be performed during initial grafting, the graft is soaked in the stimulating solution prior to being introduced into the gonad pouch. In this case, it is observed that it is also possible to soak both the nucleus and the graft in the stimulating solution before they are introduced into the gonad pouch.

In a third implementation, the stimulating solution is injected into the gonad pouch before or after the nucleus is introduced. As in the second implementation, the stimulating solution can be injected while 3 simultaneously coating the nucleus and/or the graft with the stimulating solution.

In another aspect of the invention, the stimulating solution is also used in order to vary the color of the pearl obtained. It can be seen that in the implementation of the method described above for obtaining the stimulating solution the entire plate of nacre of an oyster is used to produce the nacre powder from which the associated proteins and molecules are extracted. This means that proteins are extracted not only from the white portion of the nacre but also from the colored portion, which is representative of the genus and of the species of the oyster from which the nacre is extracted.

In order to obtain pearls of different colors from a single donor oyster, or, more generally, from a single nacre-producing mollusk, it is possible to prepare the stimulating solution from nacre of a pre-selected color, either by using a particular zone of the shell, or by using nacre coming from an oyster that is a different color from that of the receiving oyster.

By way of example, a stimulating solution prepared from an oyster of the Pinctada genus, Margaritifera species albinos variant, used with a receiver oyster of the Pinctada genus, normal Margaritifera species serves to obtain a pearl presenting a very soft silver grey orient with pastel-colored reflections of dapple grey type.

Likewise, with a stimulating solution prepared from the nacre of an oyster of the Pinctada genus Maculata species and used in conjunction with a receiver oyster of the Pinctada genus, normal Margaritifera species, the pearl obtained is a golden pearl with dark reflections having a very iridescent orient.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the implementations described and it is possible to vary V) implementations described and it is possible to vary implementation without departing from the ambit of the invention as defined by the claims.

In particular, although the implementations described refer to using the stimulating Ssolution directly, it is possible to keep the stimulating solution in a lyophilized form. In which case, it is possible to use the concentrated stimulating solution when the lyophilisate is rehydrated. In particular, for soaking the nucleus or the graft, a solution is used that is obtained by diluting 50 milligrams (mg) to 150 mg of lypophilisate, and preferably 100 \mg, in 50 mL of water, whereas for injection purposes, the same quantities of lyophilisate 00 are diluted in only 20 mL of water.

10 Likewise, when seeking pearls of varied colors, although the invention is described Swith reference to a dark-colored receiver oyster and stimulating solutions obtained from light-colored oysters, it is possible to interchange these colors, for example, by using a stimulating solution extracted from an oyster of the Pinctada genus, Margaritifera species introduced into the gonad pouch of an oyster of the Pinctada genus, normal Fucata species.

It is also possible to use oysters of a different genus or species from those stated, for example, an oyster of the Pinctada genus, Maxima species. By so doing, light-colored pearls are obtained that may present differing golden or silvery hues.

Although the description refers more specifically to culturing pearls in oysters, it is also possible to envisage culturing pearls using other nacre-producing mollusks such as abalones.

Where the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification, they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components referred to, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature, integer, step, component or group thereof.

07/02/05,sw 14760spa,4

Claims

1. A method of culturing pearls by using a nacre- producing receiver mollusk having a gonad pouch, the method comprising a step of introducing a nucleus into the gonad pouch of the nacre-producing mollusk, said method being characterized in that it further comprises the step of introducing a stimulating solution of associated nacre-originating proteins and molecules into the gonad pouch.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the stimulating solution is introduced into the gonad pouch by the nucleus being soaked in said stimulating solution prior to being introduced into the gonad pouch.

3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises the step of introducing a graft into the gonad pouch, and in that the stimulating solution is introduced into the gonad pouch by the graft being soaked in said stimulating solution prior to being introduced into the gonad pouch.

4. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the stimulating solution is injected into the gonad pouch.

A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the stimulating solution is obtained by reducing the nacre to powder on the basis of a grain size of less than 50 ym, and by putting the resulting powder into contact with ultra-pure water at a concentration in the range of g to 100 g of powder per 100 mL of water, followed by extraction of the aqueous phase.

6. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the aqueous phase is lyophilized, and in that a stimulating solution is reconstituted by mixing 50 mg to r 150 mg, and preferably 100 mg, in 20 mL to 50 mL of sterile water, depending on the method used to implement the stimulating solution.

7. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the stimulating solution is prepared from nacre having a pre-selected color.

8. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the stimulating solution is extracted from the nacre of an oyster of the Pinctada genus, Margaritifera albinos species, and the receiver nacre-producing mollusk is an oyster of the Pinctada genus, normal Margaritifera species.

9. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the stimulating solution is extracted from the nacre of an oyster of the Pinctada genus, normal Maculata species, and the receiver mollusk is an oyster of the Pinctada genus, normal Margaritifera species.

A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the stimulating solution is extracted from the nacre of an oyster of the Pinctada genus, normal Margaritifera species, and the receiver nacre-producing mollusk is an oyster of the Pinctada genus, normal Fucata species.

11. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the stimulating solution is extracted from the nacre of an oyster of the Pinctada genus, Maculata species or Margaritifera species and the nacre-producing receiver mollusk is an oyster of the Pinctada genus, Maxima species.

12. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the stimulating solution is extracted from the nacre of an oyster of the Pinctada genus, Maxima species, and the r 7 nacre-producing receiver mollusk is an oyster of the Pinctada genus, Margaritifera species.