Understanding precision nitrogen stress to optimize the growth and lipid content tradeoff in oleaginous green microalgae

► N deficiency generally had disproportionate effects on growth and lipid content. ► Optimal growth and lipid balancing required wide range in N supply among species. ► Concurrent growth and lipid accumulation resulted in increased lipid productivity. ► High lipid content resulted from a lipid accumulation response to little stress. ► Best species will grow, accumulate lipid concurrently and respond to little stress.