Microalgae is one of most attractive feedstock for biodiesel due to its lots of 1excellent properties. However,there were a variety of bottlenecks for large-scale cultivation of microalgae,e. g. breeding microalgal strains,high density cultivation technology,harvesting and dehydration of microalgal biomass,design of efficient bioreactor and so on. This review illustrates the factors in high-density cultivation and lipid accumulation of oleaginous microalgae to provide references for microalgal technologists,in terms of microalgal species,nutrient elements,culture conditions,nutrition styles and cultivation modes.