Overproduction of palmitoleic acid from corn stover hydrolysate by engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae

•Corn stover hydrolysate could be efficiently utilized by the engineered yeast.•Palmitoleic acid production was enhanced by applying two-stage cultivation strategy.•C/N ratio and amino acid addition deeply affected the synthesis of palmitoleic acid.•A highest palmitoleic acid titer of 6.56 g/L was obtained in a 5 L bioreactor.