Abstract: Effects of soybean lecithin and vegetable oil on the β-carotene biosynthesis with Blakeslea trispora and its cell growth were investigated.Results showed that soybean oil and cottonseed oil result in higher production of β-carotene,and soybean lecithin could stimulate the pathway from other carotenes to β-carotene,thus increase the accumulation of β-carotene. When 0.4% soybean lecithin is added,the β-carotene productivity of Blakeslea trispora could reach 2.86 g/L,contrasted with 2.09 g/L of the control without adding soybean lecithin,increased by 36.8%.

Key words: soybean lecithin； Blakeslea trispora； vegetable oil； &beta, -carotene；