**5. Yeast**

Yeast synthesizes a variety of commercially important carotenoids, viz., carotene, torulene, torularhodin and astaxanthin. Genera *Rhodotorula*, *Sporobolomyces* and *Phaffia* are potential sources of pigments. Carotenoids from yeast are used in pharmaceutical, chemical, food and feed industries. They are also an important precursor for vitamin A synthesis. Apart from coloring, it also has antioxidant and possible tumor-inhibiting properties [94,95].
