Improved lycopene production by Blakeslea trispora with isopentenyl compounds and metabolic precursors.

The highest lycopene production in mated cultures of Blakeslea trispora was 578 mg/l by adding 42 mg geraniol/l to the medium after 48 h of growth. The control gave 317 mg/l. Adding isopentenyl alcohol at 40 mg/l, mevalonic acid at 17.5 mg/l or dimethyl allyl alcohol at 150 mg, each after 36 h growth, gave lycopene yields 62, 45 and 47%, respectively, higher than the control.