Lycopene and beta-carotene production were increased when oxygen-vectors, n-hexane and n-dodecane, were added to cultures of Blakeslea trispora because of the enhanced dissolved oxygen concentrations. With 1% (v/v) n-hexane or n-dodecane added in the medium, lycopene production was 51% or 78% higher and beta-carotene production was 44% or 65% higher than that of the control, respectively. The highest lycopene and beta-carotene production, 533 mg l(-1) and 596 mg l(-1), were obtained when 1% (v/v) n-dodecane and 0.1% (w/v) Span 20 were added together, which were 2.1-fold and 1.8-fold of the control, respectively. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.