Gibberellic acid, amino acids (glycine and L-leucine), vitamin B2 and zinc as factors affecting the production pigments by Monascus purpureus in a liquid culture using response surface methodology

The combined effects of zinc, gibberellic acid, vitamin B 2 , amino acids (glycine and L-leucine) on pigment production were evaluated in a liquid culture of Monascus purpureus . In this study, response surface design was used to optimize each parameter. The data were analyzed using Minitab 14 software. Five parameters were applied by using response surface methodology for pigment production in liquid cultures. Four zinc, 11 gibberellic acids, three vitamins B 2 , eleven and fifteen amino acids (glycine and L-leucine) respectively; levels were evaluated. The highest production of pigment was reached with a 10 mg/l vitamin B 2 , 50 mg/l gibberellic acid and 50 mg/l glycine amino acid. Keywords: Monascus purpureus , response surface methodology, amino acid, gibberellic acid, zinc, vitamin B 2 African Journal of Biotechnology , Vol 13(12), 1484-1490