Monascus pigment fermentations have been performed mainly
in solid cultures [10], however production yields have been too
low to allow industrial scale production to make it economical. As
a means of increasing the pigment yield, much research has focused
on submerged cultures [11]. There are reports concerning mutation
of strains, changes in nutrients and culture conditions. Submerged
fermentation techniques have also been developed including fedbatch cultures, bioreactors [12]. Moreover, studies on red pigment
synthesis by various strains of M. perpureus in submerged cultures revealed that the yield is affected by medium composition,
pH and agitation [13]. Particularly, composition of pigments varies
significantly depending on the types of nutrient available, such
as nitrogen sources and the strain used [14]. Therefore, before
isolation of pigment, optimization of various physical and nutritional parameters for maximum growth of cultures and pigment
production by M. perpureus in submerged fermentation was very