Cell fusion between complementary mutants isolated from astaxanthin-producing yeast, Phaffia rhodozyma, was carried out to obtain astaxanthin-overproducing strains by protoplast fusion technique. The frequency of protoplast fusion was ranged from 2.3$ imes$10-5 to 6.0$ imes$10-5, and nuclear fusion in the cells of hybrids was demonstrated by several techniques such as isolation of recombinants after mitotic segregation of parental genetic markers, estimation of DNA content, direct observation of nuclei with nuclear staining, and comparison of survival rate to UV exposure. One of several hybrids, Fl, showed approximately 3-fold increase in astaxanthin content when compared with wild parent.