Influence of Carbon and Nitrogen Sources on Growth and Pigment Production by Monascus Pilosus C1 Strain

Abstract

ABSTRACTPigments produced by Monascus fungi are widely used in food and biotechnology as natural colorants, flavors and preservatives. There are various factors influencing the pigments productions, among which are the nutrient media composition, pH, ambient temperature, mode of cultivation. In the present study the influence of different carbon and nitrogen sources on the pigments biosynthesis by Monascus pilosus C1 strain was investigated during batch cultivation at the following conditions: T = 30°C, pH 6.0, agitation 300 rpm and modified Chapec—Dox medium with different carbon (a range of sugars and alcohols) or nitrogen sources for 7 days. Some process kinetic parameters—YX/C, YP/C, Vav, were calculated and analized. It was found that the micelial growth, expressed as dry weight (DW) and the specific pigment production (SPP) were strongly stimulated by glucose as a carbon source. The DW and SPP reached values of 10.89 g DW l−1, and 1.97 OU mg DW−1 and 1.01 OU mg DW−1 for the total red and yellow pigments, respectively. Sodium glutamate combined with glucose increased effectively the pigments production up to 2.29 OU mg DW−1 and 1.67 OU mg DW−1 respectively for the total red and yellow pigments. The obtained yield coefficient of the studied processes indicated the feasibility of Monascus pilosus C1 strain for pigments production. None of the investigated carbon or nitrogen sources provoked citrinin biosynthesis.