Isolation, purification and morphological and molecular identification of two halophyte microalgae species from Lipar back barrier (Oman Sea, Chabahar)

Isolation and identification of unknown microorganisms native to our country and their preservation in the collections of genetic resources in order to exploit their biological capacity are of special importance and necessity. This study aimed to identify halophyte microalgae living in the back-barrier Lipar located on the shores of the Oman Sea in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Water and phytoplankton sampling was carried out from the back-barrier in 2019-2020. Isolation and purification of the collected microalgae were performed by serial dilution and F2 medium culture in agar and liquid media, and finally, pure single colonies were obtained. Then, the initial identification of isolates was done through microscopic observations and comparison with morphologically valid classification keys. In the next step, 18S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes were used for further verification and identification by molecular method and sequencing. Analysis of morphological data and molecular sequencing showed that two purified isolates were green microalgae Dunaliella salina and green-blue microalgae Cyanothece sp., which was identified for the first time from the back-barrier. In terms of biological and commercial capacity, these two microalgae are suitable species for mass production and are widely used in industry. The purified strains have been donated to the National Bank of Iran Genetic Resources for future research or industrial-scale exploitation.