In batch culture for glutathione production with Candida utilis, a higher temperature (30 degrees C) was required to hasten cell growth while a lower temperature (26 degrees C) was needed to increase the production of glutathione. A two-stage temperature control strategy was used to enhance both the yield and the productivity of glutathione. As a result, glutathione production was increased by 5% and 23% of that at 26 degrees C and 30 degrees C, respectively, and the intracellular glutathione content reached 2.5% (w/w).