The adaptive response of the fungus Blakeslea trispora to the oxidative stress induced by elevated dissolved oxygen concentrations during carotene production was investigated by measuring the specific activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the micromorphology of the fungus using a computerized image analysis system. Changes in the ratio of the volume of air (V(a)) over the medium and the volume of medium (V(m)) in the flask caused changes of the morphology of microorganism from clumps to pellets and increases in the specific activities of CAT and SOD. The oxidative stress in B. trispora resulted in a significant increase in carotene production, and a maximum proportion of beta-carotene (60%), gamma-carotene (50%), and lycopene (10%) (as percentages of total carotenes) was observed at a ratio V(a)/V(m) of 15.7, 4.0 and 1.5, respectively. The highest concentration of carotenes (115.0 mg/g dry biomass) was obtained in V(a)/V(m) ratio of 9.0. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.