Enhancement of carotenoid synthesis by fungal metabolites

Carotenoids, mainly the all-trans-β-carotene, may be produced by the fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus under normal fermentation conditions. A number of chemical compounds that stimulate or inhibit fungal carotenogenesis have been reported earlier. A procedure for the screening of organisms that enhance carotenogenesis on co-culturing with P. blakesleeanus is described. A water-soluble stimulator of carotenogenesis was obtained from the fermentation broth of an unidentified Aspergillus sp. isolated from soil. The crude preparation appears to be ten times more potent than dimethylphthalate.