Production of citrinin by Monascus ruber submerged culture in chemically defined media

Following our investigations on citrinin production by Monascus ruber in a chemically defined medium, the kinetic behaviour of this toxin in the fermenter was studied with relation to production of pigments, biomass and nutrient consumption. Showing a secondary metabolite pattern, citrinin was produced when dμ/dt and dQ s /dt were ≤ 0, while a high specific production rate of pigments occurred when d μ/ dt and dQ s / dt were > 0. No trophophase‐idiophase transition was detected during the cuitivation, and the behaviour of pigment production was similar to that of a primary metabolite.