Influence of Physicochemical Factors on Growth and Pigment Synthesis by Pyrenochaeta Terrestris

SUMMARY

Pyrenochaeta terrestris produces pigments when grown on natural or synthetic media. These pigments are freely soluble in organic solvents but insoluble in water. The structure of pigments after isolation and identification was consistent with those found in recently published papers. The highest pigment production occurred at pH 6.5 when P. terrestris was grown with sucrose as the carbon source and sodium nitrate as the nitrogen source. Cultures grown in the light had a slightly higher pigment content. The highest pigment production occurred when tyrosine was present in the medium.