Enhanced production of monascus pigment by mixed cultures and fermentation process development

摘要

Monascus, a producer a Monascus pigments, was co-cultured with Saccharomyces as a mixed organism in solid sucrose media. Monasucs cell mass increased two times along with pigment yield increase of 30 to 40 times compared with cultures lacking Saccharomyces. Hydrolytic enzymes produced by Saccharomyce have been known to be major factors for the mixed culture effects. The enhancements of Monascus pigment production obtained in solid sucrose media could be accomplished in liquid sucrose media in mixed culture with Saccharmoyces. Using amylase activity as an indicator of pigment production, it was controlled and optimized during fermentation in liquid sucrose media to yield enhanced pigment production. The pigment production was increased by 50