Saccharomyces cerevisiae LZ-53 was selected from 240 primary yeast strains from different genera and species, whose chromium (Cr) resistance and biomass were higher than others were. The highest biomass and Cr content of the strain was obtained in 30 h at 28 degrees C and 200 rpm, when 20 ml of the culture in 250-ml shake flasks was grown in wort containing 1200 microg/ml Cr. The initial pH was adjusted to 6.0. The optimal inoculum volume was 10% (v/v). The Cr content of the cells was determined by neutron activation analysis. Under the optimized cultivation conditions, the Cr content reached 3248 microg/g.