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Dunaliella maritima, isolated from salt pans of Jamnagar, Gujarat, showed an increase in total lipid content with respect to per unit biomass when grown at increasing salinities of 0.5 M, 1M and 2M sodium chloride concentration. 1M salt concentration was found optimum for growth of Dunaliella maritima, as indicated by maximum total biomass accumulation in four week old cultures. Neutral lipid content per unit biomass was also maximum at 1M salt concentration. 0.5M sodium chloride concentration created hypoosmotic condition while 2M sodium chloride gave hyperosmotic stress. Diminished content of triglyceride and pronounced increase in free fatty acid and sterol at 0.5M and 2M salt concentration, suggests non availability of glycerol for triglyceride synthesis at both these salinities.
