Production of red pigment by submerged culture of Paecilomyces sinclairii.
OBJECTIVE
From a survey of submerged culture of edible mushrooms, a high pigment-producing fungus Paecilomyces sinclairii was selected and its optimal culture conditions investigated.


RESULTS
The optimal culture conditions for pigment production were as follows: inoculum age, 3 d; temperature, 25 degrees C; initial pH, 6.0; carbon source, 1.5% (w/v) soluble starch; nitrogen source, 1.5% (w/v) meat peptone. Although addition of 10 mmol l(-1) CaCl2 to the culture medium slightly increased pigment production, most of the bio-elements examined had no notable or detrimental effect on pigment production.


CONCLUSIONS
Under the optimal conditions obtained in the flask culture tested, a ninefold increase in pigment production (4.4 g l(-1)) was achieved using a 5(-l) batch fermenter. Paecilomyces sinclairii secreted water-soluble red pigment into the culture medium. The pigment colour was strongly dependent on the pH of the solution: red at pH 3-4, violet at pH 5-9 and pink at pH 10-12.


CONCLUSIONS
The high concentration of pigment (4.4 g l(-1)) produced by P. sinclairii demonstrates the possibility of commercial production of pigment by this strain, considering its relatively high production yield and light stability.
Cho
Y J
YJ
Department of Biotechnology, Taegu University, Kyungsan, Kyungbuk, Korea.
Park
J P
JP
Hwang
H J
HJ
Kim
S W
SW
Choi
J W
JW
Yun
J W
JW
D019149:Bioreactors; D001709:Biotechnology; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D005285:Fermentation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D025282:Mycelium / Q000254:growth & development; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010143:Paecilomyces / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
D003470:Culture Media; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen