VERBESSERTES VERFAHREN ZUR HERSTELLUNG VON KAROTENE UND KAROTENOIDEN AUS ALGEN UND CYANOBAKTERIEN

Suggested is a process for the production of carotenes or carotenoids from algae or cyanobacteria, comprising (a) Cultivating algae or cyanobacteria having the ability for the biosynthesis of carotenes or carotenoids under conditions suitable for optimal vegetable growth of said cells (so-called "Green Phase"), and (b) Collecting the cells thus obtained and cultivating them further under conditions suitable for induction and accumulation of carotenoids in said cells (so-called "Red Phase"), characterised in that the light intensity in step (b) is not increased compared to step (a) and that the cultivated cells are subjected to chemical stress for the induction of the carotene or carotenoid synthesis.