Effects of salinity concentrations on growth Dunaliella salina (Dunal) Teodoresco (Chlorophyceae)

Dunaliella salina is able to accumulate high concentration of beta-carotene when it is cultered under certain stress condition such as high salinity, ligth illumination and nitrogen starvation. Since D. salina can tolerate high salinity concentrations, they are able to adept to extremely saline environments such salt lakes. In this study, water samples were collected from to reddish areas at Konya Salt Lake. Dunaliella salina cells were recognized under the microscope. After isolation of the cells by using dilution technique, cells were cultured at the laboratory conditions. By addition of NaCl, 0.62M, 0.85M, 1.28M ve 1.71M salinity levels were obtained. The algal cells were cultured in AS100 medium in 500 ml erlens at 20 +/- 1 degrees C and under continous illumination at 100 mu mol foton m(-2) s(-1). During the experiment, it was observed that D. salina grows very well even at the high salinity levels. For example, density of alga cells reached up to 5.87x10(6) cells ml(-1) at 1.71 M salinity level where total beta-carotene was calculated as 9.80 +/- 0.25 mg g(-1) of total dyr weight. From the results of this study, it was concluded that D. salina isolated from Konya Salt Lake, able to tolerate high salinity levels and it can continoue to grow well even at very high salinity concentrations.