Chlorella　sorokiniana　has　received　particular　attention　as　a　promising　candidate　for　microalgal　biomass　and　lutein　production.　In　this　work,　heterotrophic　cultivation　was　explored　to　improve　the　lutein　production　efficiency　of　a　lutein-rich　microalga　C.　sorokiniana　FZU60.　Flask　cultivation　results　showed　that　the　highest　lutein　productivity　was　achieved　at　30°C　with　an　initial　cell　concentration　of　1.40　g/L.　Furthermore,　six　types　of　fed-batch　strategies　based　on　nutrient　composition　and　concentration　were　examined　using　a　5　L　fermenter.　Among　them,　ultra-high　lutein　production　(415.93　mg/L)　and　productivity　(82.50　mg/L/d)　with　lutein　content　of　2.57　mg/g　were　achieved　with　fed-batch　3F　(i.e.,　pulse-feeding　with　concentrated　urea-N　medium　to　achieve　a　3-fold　nutrient　concentration).　The　lutein　production　performance　achieved　is　much　higher　than　the　reported　values.　This　work　demonstrates　that　heterotrophic　cultivation　of　C.　sorokiniana　FZU60　with　the　proposed　fed-batch　strategy　could　significantly　enhance　the　production　performance　and　the　commercial　viability　of　microalgae-derived　lutein.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd