Production of monacolin K in submerged culture by citrinin-free Monascus species

Production of monacolin K in submerged cultures by three Monascus strains which were citrinin-free in YES medium were studied.In rice powder medium,Monascus ruber could not produce monacolin K,but Monascus purpureus and Monascus buliginosus could.The former produced more than the latter.M.purpureus could also produce monacolin K in glucose-glycerol medium if extract yeast was added into the medium.104 mg/L of monacolin K was produced by M.purpureus in a 2 L fermentor on the 13~(th) day in glucose-glycerol medium,meanwhile no citrinin was produced.