Dunaliella sp. ARAS128

Morphological Features of  Species

Cells are unicellular, motile, and biflagellate, bearing two equal flagella at the anterior end that are typically longer than the cell body. Cells are ovoid to ellipsoid or slightly pyriform, approximately 5-12 µm in length. A rigid polysaccharide cell wall is absent; instead, cells are enclosed by a thin mucilaginous glycocalyx, which allows rapid changes in cell volume and shape in response to osmotic fluctuations. Each cell contains a single cup-shaped chloroplast with a prominent basal pyrenoid surrounded by starch grains, and an anterior eyespot (stigma). Reproduction is mainly asexual through longitudinal cell division in the motile state; isogamous sexual reproduction and non-motile palmelloid stages under stress conditions have also been reported. Dunaliella sp. is noted for its wide salinity tolerance, achieved through intracellular glycerol accumulation, and its rapid growth. Unlike D. salina, it does not accumulate large amounts of β-carotene and remains green under stress.

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