An interspecific fusant was made from the protoplasts of two strains of Lactobacillus genus (L. bulgaricus and L.helveticus). And in order to test the applicability of the fusant in manufacturing the cheddar cheese, functional properties of the strain was examined by determining acid-producing activity, three important enzyme activities and volatile free fatty acid-producing activity. The recombinant strain did not exhibit greatly increased acid-porducing activity. Lipase and volatile free fatty acid-porducing abilities of the fusant, however, were remarkably higher than those of the two parental strains. The fusant actually porduced the cheese porduct of the highest ammount of total volatile free fatty acid after 7 days ripening at 10$^{circ}C$. Finally, the cheddar cheese ripened with this strain was also evaluated to be high preference and flavor intensity by organoleptic panel tests.