Light effects on cell development and secondary metabolism in Monascus.

In nature, light is one of most crucial environmental signals for developmental and physiological processes in various organisms, including filamentous fungi. We have found that both red light and blue light affect development in Monascus, influencing the processes of mycelium and spore formation, and the production of secondary metabolites such as gamma-aminobutyric acid, red pigments, monacolin K and citrinin. Additionally, we observed that the wavelength of light affects these developmental and physiological processes in different ways. These findings suggest that Monascus possesses a system for differential light response and regulation.