The effects of nutrients and cell aggregate size on the cell growth of D. carota and the biosynthesi of carotenoid were investigated. Highest carotenoid content was obtained with sucrose as a carbon source and the equal ratio of ammonium to nitrate. High phosphate concentration stimulated the carotenoid biosynthesis in D. corota. 2,4-D inhibited the cell growth but stimulated the specific carotenoid content at high concentration. By modifying the medium composition based on these findings, three times higher specific carotenoid content and 2.5 times higher total carotenoid content were obtained as compared with the results obtained with basic MS media. Biosynthesis of carotenoid was found to be affected by cell aggregate size; high carotenoid production was obtained from the large aggregated cells resulted from high sucrose concentration.