Conservation and Biodiversity Analysis of the Micro alga Dunaliella in Shrinking Highly Saline Urmia Lake Based on Intron-sizing Method

Abstract

As the world’s second saltiest lake, Urmia Lake is the main source of halotolerant unicellular microalga, Dunaliella, in Iran. Recently, this lake and, consequently, it s biodiversity are being threatened environmentally. Hence collecting, preserving, and identification of indigenous microorganisms of the lake are of great importance. The objective of the present study was the molecular sc reening of Dunaliella isolates in Urmia Lake. For this purpose, 32 samples were taken from different geographical regions of the lake. Then, their molecular pattern was examined ba sed on 18S rDNA gene and intron- sizing method. Results based on conserved and speci es-specific primers of 18S rDNA illustrated that, depending on the various parts of the lake, the genetic variation of Dunaliella population differs. The amplified pattern for indi vidual isolates was similar to that previously described for D. tertiolecta , D. bardawil and Dunaliella sp. ARIINW -M1/2 . Also, 18S rDNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of five index isolates showed that the isolates Dunaliella sp . ABRIINW -Ch5, -Sh6.3 and -U1/1 were grouped with different intron lacking species of Dunaliella , ABRIINW -Ch3.1 was clustered with Dunaliella sp . ABRIINW -M1/2, while the isolate Dunaliella sp . ABRIINW -S1.5 was clustered with intron-harboring species of D. bardawil , D. parva, and D. viridis . The results indicated that Urmia Lake is composed of isolates with different 18S rDNA profiles with various intron arrangement. Keywords: 18S rDNA , Halotolerant unicellular microalga, Molecular scr eening.