Isolation of thermo-tolerant and high lipid content green microalgae: Oil accumulation is predominantly controlled by photosystem efficiency during stress treatments in Desmodesmus

► New thermo-tolerant and high lipid content microalgae were isolated from a subtropical location. ► Three microalgae accumulated more than 50% of lipids in dry mass under nitrogen starvation. ► Triglycerides constituted around 75% of the total lipids in the three microalgae. ► Oil yields under stress treatments positively correlated with their photosystem efficiencies.