The unicellular motile green algae of the genus
Dunaliella are among the most widespread eukaryotic
organism in hyper saline environments, which shows a
remarkable degree of adaptation to a variety of salt
concentrations from 0.2% to saturation (around 35%)
(Ben-Amotz and Avron 1983, 1990). Dunaliella was first
described by Teodoresco in 1905 (Oren 1999). Species of
the genus lack a rigid cell wall and have a single large
cupshaped chloroplast that fills the posterior part of the
cell (Nader et al. 2011).
Among Dunaliella species, Dunaliella salina is able to
accumulate large amounts of β-carotene (more than 10%
of dry weight) under proper inductive conditions. Most of
the accumulated β-carotene, mainly consisting of the 9-cis
and all-trans isomer, are currently being used as a food
coloring agent and pro-vitamin A in animal food; additive
to cosmetics; multivitamin preparations and health food
products (antioxidant and anti-cancer agent), and in the
medical treatment of diseases (Ben-Amotz et al. 1982;
Ben-Amotz & Avron 1983; Ben-Amotzet al. 1988; Ben-
Amotz & Avron 1990; Borowitzkaet al. 1990; El-Baky et
al., 2004; Çelekli and Dönmez, 2006). Carotene content is
different among D. salina strains and under different
culture conditions. The objective of this study was to
determine growth of Dunaliella salina strains under
different conditions of salinity and light intensity as basis
for further experiments of carotenoids induction using
salinity and light stresses.