| Summary: | Bibliography: pages 117-123. === Within the aquaculture industry a potential has been identified for the pigment astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is the carotenoid responsible for the distinctive coloration of salmonids, crustaceans and certain birds. Due to the fact that animals cannot synthesize carotenoids themselves, it is necessary for these pigments to be present in their food source. In the case of farm-raised salmonids and crustaceans, supplementation of their food with astaxanthin is required. The chemical synthesis of astaxanthin is very costly and complicated. As a result natural, microbial sources of astaxanthin are being investigated. Phaffia rhodozyma is the only yeast known to synthesize astaxanthin as its principle carotenoid. The aim of this dissertation is to present a study investigating the growth and pigmentation of P. rhodozyma, with a view to its commercial production. A P. rhodozyma mutant (UCT-1 N-3693) with a 50% increased total carotenoid content was selected after NTG mutagenesis of the wild strain.
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