The structure of an apocarotenoid (1% of total carotenoid) isolated from the seed coat of Bixa Orellana fruit was established as methyl 9 Z-apo-6 -lycopenoate (methyl 9 Z-6 -apo-ψ-caroten-6 -oate) by means of UV-visible and 500 MHz 1 H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The well-known C 4 0 -carotenes phytoene, phytofluene, ξ-carotene and neurosporene were tentatively identified.