Identification of four species green algae Dunaliella isolated from coastal waters in Qeshm Island-Iran

In order to identify the species of green algae Dunaliella , the sampling from coastal waters in Qeshm Island was carried out and algal samples were grown in Johnson medium under sterile conditions. Algal samples were purified via cultivation as single colony on the solid medium containing agar and then single colonies transferred to liquid medium. To identify the genus and species of Dunaliella , taking some morphological characteristics, including the presence or absence of cell wall, flagella, eye spot and shape and cell size, and algae were identified by identification keys of genus and species. For study of the algae response to salinity, algal samples exposed to different concentrations NaCl, and the amount of glycerol produced and the growth rate of the cells was measured. Finally in this study, four species of D u n a li e ll a m a r iti m a , D . Mi n u ti s i m a , D. quartolecta and D . Vi r i d i s based on morphological characteristics (above mented) and also physiological characteristics, such as glycerol production under salinity (1 to 4 M salt), the optimal growth on the 1 or 2 molar NaCl, the color changes of algae from green to orange- red or did not change color of algae at high salt concentrations (4 mM NaCl), were identified