The effect of medium components on cordycepin production by Cordyceps militaris mutant obtained by ion beam irradiation was investigated. According to the response surface analysis using a central composite design for the prospective mutant G81-3, the predicted optimal concentrations of glucose as the carbon source and the yeast extract as the nitrogen source were 86.2 g/l and 93.8 g/l, respectively, and 6.84 g/l cordycepin was obtained. To date, this is the highest Value for cordycepin production. The optimal concentrations of glucose and yeast extract for cordycepin production of the mutant was much higher than that of control (wild strain) and the cordycepin production was 2.79 times higher. Therefore, this new mutant will be a promising strain for future higher cordycepin production at industrial levels. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.