جداسازي و شناسايي قارچ Monascus توليدكننده پيگمان

Isolation and identification of pigment producing Monascus fungi

Monascus is a microscopic fungus belonging to Eurotials order and due to its importance and extensive applications, such as pigment, flavouring and preservative agents production for foods and in drugs as cholesterol-lowering agent and also according to its worldwide distribution, we isolated and identified natives strains of this fungus for the first time in Iran. In this study, out of 122 samples collected from different sources such as flours, rice, soil, starch, fruits and slime, 4 conformed fungi strains were isolated using MEPAG culture medium in which two strains of the isolated colonies had capability for pigment production. After microscopic and macroscopic observation, the proper cases were isolated and identified by identification keys. To further confirm the identify of the two isolates, the PCR was applied for a rDNA specific region called ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) and was sequenced, that this method confirmed the genus recognition. The result of this research was isolation and identification of two Monascus species. Using standard taxonomic key, we recognized them as M. fumeus and M. purpureus.