Differential Modulation of Biomass Productivity and Fatty Acid Composition in Dunaliella salina by Salinity and Nutrient Stress

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Chabahar Maritime University, Chabahar, Iran

Abstract

Dunaliella salina, a microalga renowned for its production of bioactive compounds, holds significant potential for biofuel generation. This study investigated the interactive effects of salinity and nutrient availability on the growth kinetics, biomass yield, total lipid content, and fatty acid composition of a D. salina strain isolated from the southern coast of Iran. The microalga was cultivated under three distinct salinity levels (35, 70, and 105 g/L), each supplemented with varying concentrations of nitrate (100%, 50%, 25%) and glucose (1, 2, and 3 g/L). The highest biomass yield (1449 mg/L) was achieved at the lowest salinity (35 g/L) when supplemented with 3 g/L glucose. Notably, the average biomass production across various nutrient treatments at 70 g/L salinity surpassed that observed at the other salinities. While alterations in nutrient concentrations did not significantly impact the overall lipid content (P ≥ 0.05), the highest lipid accumulation was observed at the highest salinity (105 g/L). However, the lipid productivity at 35 g/L with 3 g/L glucose was superior due to the substantially higher biomass yield. Saturated Fatty Acids (SFAs) dominated the fatty acid profiles, ranging from 41% to 73% of the total fatty acids, whereas Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) varied between 2% and 40%. Palmitic acid (C16:0) consistently represented the most abundant individual fatty acid (13-44%) across all treatments. The maximum accumulation of SFAs was observed at 70 g/L salinity. The findings of this study demonstrate the significant influence of salinity and nutrient regimes on the biomass and lipid characteristics of the Iranian D. salina isolate, suggesting its potential as a promising feedstock for biofuel production.

Keywords

References

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Plant, Algae, and Environment
Volume 9, Issue 3
DOi
September 2025
Pages 61-81

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