NOVEL STRAINS OF PHAFFIA RHODOZYMA CONTAINING HIGH LEVELS OF ASTAXANTHIN AND LOW LEVELS OF 3-HYDROXY-3',4'-DIDEHYDRO- beta , psi -CAROTEN-4-ONE (HDCO)

摘要

The present invention provides Phaffia rhodozyma strains having increased levels of astaxanthin and a low percentage of 3-hydroxy-3',4'-didehydro- beta , psi -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.