The extent of the oxygen effect for cell survival was studied in diploid and haploid wild-type yeast and in mutants belonging to the rad2, rad6 and rad50 epistatic group. In haploids, reduced oxygen enhancement ratios were found in rad52, rad6 and rad18. The latter two also showed some influence of the mating type. In diploids the oxygen effect was decreased in rad2, rad52 and rad18.