I have cultivate fungus in medium containing glucose and some minerals, such as CaCl2.2H20, MgSO4.7H20, (NH4)2SO4, and KH2PO4 in different pH (3,4,5,6,7,8,9). I set the initial pH with adding NaOH or H2SO4 solutions.Interestingly, the medium solution change into red color (especially at high pH value 7,8,9). The higher pH, the more red its solution color.
If the colour appears prior cultivation, you have some contaminant either in your chemicals or your apparatus. None of the chemicals mentioned should give any colour at all.
If it appears after cultivation, your fungus is likely producing the pigment and probably triggered by the pH.
Thank you Xabier. I was working with R. microscopus var. oligosporus. There were no growth in pH 8 and 9, but my fungi grew at pH 3,4,5,6,7, so i guess it wasn't caused by contaminant.
Are you adding any salts with selenium to the medium? That is one case where you might see a red color at higher pH.
Nobe, i added inorganic salt only (NH4)2SO4, without selenium addition
Those salts are not causing color change for sure. The color change may be caused by the fungus spores. In higher pH spores are staying inactive and generating the red color but in lower pH spores are getting germinated and you cannot see the color.
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