The paper investigates the influence of constant and periodic lighting fluorescent lamps in the range from 0 to 9 500 Lux for the growth of biomass of culture Phaffia rhodozyma and synthesis of astaxanthin at periodic cultivation in the bioreactor. It is established that with the light of 7500 Lux periodic mode of action of light allows culture to synthesize the same astaxanthin as with a constant illumination. It is shown that the constant exposure to the light of 7500 Lux leads to a greater increase in the phase lag of the biosynthesis of astaxanthin and biomass growth than periodic light.