Zinc Effects on Growth, Pigmentation and Antibacterial Activity of Monascus purpureus

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Growth, pigmentation and antibacterial activity of Monascus purpureus Went (starch fungus) were affected by zinc. Zinc at concentrations of 2 × 10‐3M and 3 × 10‐3M nearly stopped the growth, pigmentation and antibiotic production of both wild type and strain NI IS in liquid medium. Relatively vigorous growth, high pigment production, and strong antibacterial activity of NIIS still occurred on solid medium with the same zinc concentrations. Wild type was hardly affected by zinc concentrations lower than 2 × 10‐3M. The growth of strain NI IS was significantly inhibited even by 5 × 10‐5M zinc, but pigment production and antibacterial activity were highly promoted by 5 × 10‐5M zinc. Increase of glucose concentration also promoted pigment and antibiotic productions of strain NI IS. Glucose effects were intensified as 1 × 10‐3M zinc was added. Zinc may act as a growth inhibitor and concomitantly as a stimulant for glucose uptake and for the synthesis of metabolites such as pigments and antibiotics.