The　marine　microalga　Chlamydomonas　sp.　JSC4　was　examined　for　its　potential　as　a　lutein　producer.　Environmental　conditions,　including　light　quality,　temperature　and　light　wavelength　mixing　ratio,　were　individually　altered　to　enhance　the　cell　growth　rate　and　lutein　production　in　strain　JSC4.　Results　showed　that　optimal　cell　growth　was　obtained　under　white　light　and　a　temperature　of　35 °C,　while　the　optimal　lutein　content　was　obtained　under　blue　light　and　a　lower　temperature　of　20–25 °C.　The　best　lutein　production　occurred　when　using　a　mixing　ratio　of　3:1　(white　light:　blue　light).　Strategies　related　to　light　quality　and　temperature　(namely,　temperature-gradient　and　two-stage　strategies)　were　then　used　to　further　improve　lutein　production.　Among　them,　the　two-stage　strategy　proved　to　be　effective　markedly　improving　lutein　content　from　2.52　to　4.24 mg/g　and　resulting　in　the　highest　lutein　productivity　of　3.25 mg/L/day.　©　2018,　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Germany,　part　of　Springer　Nature.