Chlorella　sorokiniana　FZU60,　a　lutein-enriching　microalga,　was　cultivated　in　50　L　column　photobioreactor　to　evaluate　its　potential　for　lutein　production.　Initial　cell　concentration,　phosphate　concentration　and　aeration　rate　were　optimized,　and　results　showed　that　optimal　conditions　of　these　three　parameters　were　0.10　g/L,　0.06　g/L　and　0.02　vvm　(2.5%　CO2),　respectively.　In　addition,　a　novel　two-stage　strategy　was　successfully　developed,　in　which　algae　were　firstly　cultivated　under　fed-batch　mixotrophic　condition　to　achieve　high　biomass　concentration,　and　then　shifted　to　photoautotrophic　condition　for　enhancing　lutein　accumulation.　Moreover,　dissolved　oxygen　was　found　to　be　an　efficient　indicator　of　acetate　depletion　in　fed-batch　stage.　The　obtained　lutein　content,　production　and　productivity　reached　9.51　mg/g,　33.55　mg/L　and　4.67　mg/L/d,　respectively,　which　were　greater　than　those　reported　in　other　pilot-scale　studies.　This　proposed　strategy　provided　a　cost-effective　approach　for　high-efficient　microalgae-based　lutein　production　at　pilot-scale,　indicating　great　potential　for　commercial　production.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd