Abstract: We have studied the effects of several additives on the yield of carotenoid fermented by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa were studied. In the shake flask condition, different concentrations of the tomato juice, peanut oil, soybean oil, corn steep liquor, sodium glutamate and biotin were added to the fermentation medium respectively,and the carotened yield as well as R. mucilaginosa biomass were measured after 72 h. The results showed that when added 2 mLL-1 tomato juice,or 1.5 mLL-1 peanut oil,or 3 mLL-1 corn steep liquor,,the yield of carotenoids was increased by 14.2%, 30.3% and 21.3%, respectively. However, sodium glutamate and biotin may inhibit the synthesis of carotenoid by R. mucilaginosa. Therefore, tomato juice, peanut oil and corn steep liquor, are good promoter for carotenoid fermentation by R. mucilaginosa, may have great potential for applications in the future.