Production of Red Pigments by Monascus purpureus in Solid-state Culture

To maximize and sustain the productivity of Monascus pigments, various environmental and nutritional parameters, such as the initial moisture content, pH, inoculum size, sample size, and nutrient supplement, that influence pigment production were evaluated in solid-state cultures as follows: initial moisture content, $50\%;$ pH, 6.0; inoculum size $1\;\times\;10^4$ spore cells $(grams\;of\;dry\;solid\;substrate)^{-1};$ sample size, 300 g. All supplementary nutrients (carbon, nitrogen, and mineral sources) added has inhibitory effects on the cell growth and red pigment production. In open tray culture the maximum biomass yield and specific productivity of red pigments were 223 mg DCW $(grams\;of\;initial\;dry\;substrate)^{-1}$ and, $47.6\;OD_{500}\;(DCW\;grams)^{-1}h^h{-1}$ respectively.