The Effect of different salinities on pigment content, chemical composition and growth of Dunaliella salina microalgaein two culture media Guillard (f/2) and Modified Johansson (DUM)

The use of microalgae by human dates back to 2000 years ago in China, where it was used as food to survive famine. Microalgae are good sources of a wide range of beneficial compounds such as proteins, fats and pigments that have been used as food by humans for centuries. The aim of this study was examined to investigate amount of protein, fat, ash and cell growth and the total carotenoids by cultivating Dunaliella salina in Modified Johansson (DUM) and Guillard (f/2) medium under salinity stress of 100, 200, 300 ppt. The results showed that the highest protein production was 14/06 ± 0/34 % at low salinity of 100 ppt and the highest fat content was 35/81±1/64 % at salinity of 300 ppt. Also, the highest amount of carotenoids was produced 1/79 ± 0/30μg/mg under 300 ppt salinity stress in f/2 medium. The highest cell growth was 7808333±52041/6 cells/ml at 100 ppt salinity in Gillard culture medium. With increasing salinity of 300 ppt, the ash storage decreased by 7/18±76 %. In general, the results of this study showed that D. salina algae is a good source of pigments and fats when exposed to salinity stress.