Feeding sucrose at 20 g l(-1) on day 16 gave maximum paclitaxel production at 10 mg l(-1) when Taxus chinensis in 5 l bioreactors. Paclitaxel accumulation was doubled by the cultivation of cells initially with dissolved O-2 tension at 60% for 20 days followed by being at 20% for another 12 days in the bioreactor. Combination of these two strategies gave maximum paclitaxel production of 19 mg l(-1) after 32 days.