Abstract: Selenium yeast is important for health and pharmaceutical industry，and high selenium-enriched yeast is the basis for the development of selenium-enriched yeast products. In this study，Rhodotorula glutinis X-20 with relatively high amount of enriched selenium was screened from selenium-enriched soil of Xinjiang via preliminary screening with Martin medium and re-screening of selenium-enriching capacity. The optimal culture conditions were determined through single experimental factors. The selenium content enriched by the yeast was significantly improved by using 2% glycerol as carbon source. Supplying sodium selenite at 12 h of cultivation ensured the higher selenium content and biomass of the yeast. Addition of 0.4 mM phosphate efficiently increased the transport and accumulation of selenium，and ultimately the enriched selenium content by strain X-20 reached 5009 μg/g.

Key words: selenium-enriched soil, Rhodotorula glutinis, screen, optimized culture