Strains of phaffia rhodozyma containing high levels of astaxanthin and low levels of 3-hydroxy-3', 4'-didehydro-amp;bgr;, amp;psgr;- caroten-4-one (HDCO)

摘要

The present invention provides Phaffia rhodozyma strains having increased levels of astaxantin and a low percentage of 3-hydroxy- 3',4'- didehydro-&bgr;,&psgr;-caroten-4-one (HDCO). Such strains are obtained by a combination of mutagenesis and selection. The invention further provides a method for obtaining such strains. The invention also provides astaxanthin obtained from a mutagenized strain of Phaffia rhodozyma characterized in that it contains a decreased relative amount of HDCO.