Effects of pH of Medium on Producing the Monascus Pigment of Monascus

The effects of five different pH values of the medium on the growth and the production of monascus pigment of Monascus anka were compared It was found that it was favorable for the growth of Monascus anka when the pH of the medium was 3 8, but unfavorable for the production of monascus pigment By comprehensive analysing,the optimum pH of the medium was pH5 4 The results showed that two kinds of monascus pigment,outcellular pigment and intracellular pigment were formed by Monascus anka ,and the latter was the majority It was suggested that pH5 4 of the medium was favorable in Monascus submerged culture