Efficient Astaxanthin Production Strains Derived from Haematococcus Pluvialis

A method for producing astaxanthin using a Hematococcus pluvialis micro-organism comprising the steps of:

• (a) culturing in a medium under conditions for induction of carotenogenesis a nicotine-resistant mutant of wild-type Hematococcus pluvialis, wherein the nicotine-resistant mutant is capable of producing astaxanthin with a volumetric yield of 1.5-fold to 3.0-fold compared to wild type Hematococcus pluvialis within three days of induction of carotenogenesis, and
• (b) recovering or isolating the astaxanthin from the medium where carotenogenesis was induced;
• and/or from the mutant micro-organism or parts thereof, by extraction;
• and/or by centrifugation;
• and/or by disrupting isolated cells of the mutant micro-organism or parts thereof by chemical, enzymatic and/or physical treatment;
• and/or by homogenization of the mutant cells and/or the mutant micro-organism or parts thereof, or from cell debris;
• and/or by lyophilisation of the mutant micro-organism or parts thereof.
• wherein the nicotine-resistant mutant exhibits a growth rate substantially similar to the corresponding wild-type micro-organism.