BIOMASS AND PIGMENT PRODUCTION OF Monascus purpuresus IN Chenopodium quinoa-BASED CULTURE MEDIA

The fungal biomass of Monascus purpureus is studied for its relationship to productivity and can be measured directly or indirectly. In addition, the pigments produced by the fungus have a high economic value in different parts of the world. In this research, the biomass and pigments of M. purpureus colonies growing on C. quinoa-based culture media that demonstrated the greatest significant difference in radial growth were analysed. Fungal biomass was measured by dry weight (g) and N-acetylglucosamine (mg) by UV-Vis spectrophotometry at λ=537 nm, and conversion was performed with the calibration curve. Pigment measurement was calculated by UV-Vis spectrophotometry as (AU/ml) at λ=400, 470 and 500 nm for yellow, orange and red pigments, respectively. The analysis time of the samples was 288 hours, where the treatments that presented the greatest significant difference were the quinoa media supplemented with sodium chloride and monosodium glutamate. The results of N-acetylglucosamine and biomass per dry weight were 1.41 and 2.26 times greater in the presence of sodium chloride than monosodium glutamate. In addition, yellow, orange and red pigments were found with factors of 1.99, 0.84 and 1.23 in the presence of sodium chloride when compared to monosodium glutamate. The use of C. quinoa-based culture media supplemented with carbon, nitrogen and salt has an effect on the production of fungal biomass and natural pigments.