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 consisting of irradiation at 180 μE m−2 s−1 a nicotine-resistant mutant of wild-type Hematococcus pluvialis, wherein the nicotine-resistant mutant produces astaxanthin with a volumetric yield of 1.5-fold to 3.0-fold within three days of induction of carotenogenesis compared to wild type Hematococcus pluvialis in which carotenogenesis is induced by irradiation at 180 μE m−2 s−1, 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.