Variability of cultural and morphological traits of Dunaliella salina Teod. from different habitats

Abstract

Deficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus induced beta-carotene accumulation in the cells of 35 clonal cultures of D. salina isolated from 6 habitats in Ukraine and 1 in Russia. Nitrate and phosphate re-supplied into the medium decreased cellular beta-carotene content and cell size. Repeated passage into the medium without nutrients recovered inducible beta-carotene level; the dimensional characteristics of the cells recovered partly. Isolates from different habitats (except one) broke up into 2 groups: low carotene – small celled – fast growing and high carotene – large celled – slow growing. Peculiarities of clonal cultures depended on habitats, where they were isolated from, and persisted for 3 passages, i.e. inherited. Each 5 isolates from the same habitat did not differ, i.e. D. salina populations were homogenous within a single habitat, at least at the time and location of sampling. The ability to beta-carotene accumulation induced by the deficit of nutrients can be extrapolated to D. salina species on the whole, at least to the populations originated from Ukraine and lake Baskunchak in Russia.