PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a large quantity of the subject new strain of the genus Rhodobacter, which has capability of producing 5-aminolevulinic acid useful as a herbicide, insecticide and plant growth regulator, by selection from microorganisms which multiply under light irradiation on the basis of their photosynthetic pigment productivity under no light irradiation used as an index to the selection. SOLUTION: This new 5-aminolevulinic acid productive germ, Rhodobacterium sepharoides CR-002 (FERM P-15312), which belongs to the genus Rhodobacter and has ability to mass-produce 5-aminolevulinic acid useful as a herbicide, insecticide, plant growth regulator, etc., is obtained by culturing and multiplying a microorganism-containing sample taken out of soil or lake or marsh in a nutritive medium which contains saccharide(s), alcohol(s) or organic acid(s) as carbon sources under condition of light irradiation, and selecting strains of high photosynthetic pigment productivity by using their photosynthetic pigment productivity under no light irradiation as an index for the selection.
