In recent years, the carotenoids in nature are widely used in food, medicine, nutrition and health care industries due to the good biological activity and physiological function. And in order to meet the needs of human beings, the more and more studies on the regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis are emerging. In this paper, the effects of light, temperature and elicitor on the biosynthesis of carotenoids are reviewed, which is hoped that the production of carotenoids can be improved by external regulation in the production process.