ETHANOL AS SUBSTRATE FOR PIGMENT PRODUCTION BY THE FUNGUS MONASCUS-PURPUREUS

Ethanol at a concentration of 2% (v/v) was used as the sole carbon sou rce for pigment production by Monascus purpureus, and the specific pig ment production was higher than that obtained with cultivation on malt ose. The type of nitrogen source was shown to be of crucial significan ce in pigment formation: ammonium chloride and ammonium hydroxide supp orted biosynthesis of orange pigments, amino acids supported biosynthe sis of both yellow and red pigments, whereas yellow pigments prevailed in extracts from cultures grown on polypeptone. It was also found tha t two-stage cultivation using maltose and ethanol in the first and sec ond stages, respectively, may be useful to increase the efficiency of ethanol utilization for pigment production.