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Influence of Light Intensity on Growth and Pigment Production by Monascus ruber in Submerged Fermentation

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Abstract

To reduce environmental problems caused by glycerine accumulation and to make the production of biodiesel more profitable, crude glycerin without treatment was used as substrate for obtaining higher value-added bioproducts. Monascus ruber is a filamentous fungus that produces pigments, particularly red ones, which are used for coloring foods (rice wine and meat products). The interest in developing pigments from natural sources is increasing due to the restriction of using synthetic dyes. The effects of temperature, pH, microorganism morphology, aeration, nitrogen source, and substrates have been studied in the cultivation of M. ruber. In this work, it was observed that light intensity is also an important factor that should be considered for understanding the metabolism of the fungus. In M. ruber cultivation, inhibition of growth and pigment production was observed in Petri dishes and blaffed flasks exposed to direct illumination. Growth and pigment production were higher in Petri dishes and flasks exposed to red light and in the absence of light. Radial growth rate of M. ruber in plates in darkness was 1.50 mm day−1 and in plates exposed to direct illumination was 0.59 mm day−1. Maximum production of red pigments (8.32 UA) and biomass (8.82 g L−1) were obtained in baffled flasks covered with red film and 7.17 UA of red pigments, and 7.40 g L−1 of biomass was obtained in flasks incubated in darkness. Under conditions of 1248 lux of luminance, the maximum pigment production was 4.48 UA, with production of 6.94 g L−1 of biomass, indicating that the fungus has photoreceptors which influence the physiological responses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical and Food Engineering Department, Federal University of Santa Catarina–UFSC, P.O. Box 476, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-900, Brazil

    Rose Marie Meinicke Bühler, Bruna Luíse Müller, Denise Esteves Moritz, Debora de Oliveira & Jorge Luiz Ninow

  2. School of Agronomy and Food Engineering, Federal University of Goiás–UFG, P.O. Box 131, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil

    Francielo Vendruscolo

Authors
  1. Rose Marie Meinicke Bühler
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  2. Bruna Luíse Müller
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  3. Denise Esteves Moritz
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  4. Francielo Vendruscolo
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  5. Debora de Oliveira
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  6. Jorge Luiz Ninow
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Correspondence to Debora de Oliveira.

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Bühler, R.M.M., Müller, B.L., Moritz, D.E. et al. Influence of Light Intensity on Growth and Pigment Production by Monascus ruber in Submerged Fermentation. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 176, 1277–1289 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-015-1645-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-015-1645-8

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