Limited　filamentous　bulking　(LFB)　induced　by　low　dissolved　oxygen　in　activated　sludge　system　is　an　effective　energy　saving　process.　However,　starvation　environment　is　liable　to　result　in　the　unbalance　between　filaments　and　flocs,　affecting　the　LFB　system　performance.　The　variations　in　nitrifying　performance　and　properties　of　LFB　sludge　during　14　days　of　four　starvation　conditions　(aerobic,　alternating　anaerobic/aerobic,　anaerobic　and　anoxic)　and　their　subsequent　recovery　were　investigated　in　sequencing　batch　reactor　(SBR)　system.　The　results　showed　that　the　highest　activity　decay　rates　of　ammonia-and　nitrite-oxidizing　bacteria　(AOB　and　NOB)　were　observed　under　aerobic　starvation　condition,　followed　by　anoxic,　anaerobic,　and　alternating　anaerobic/aerobic　starvation　conditions.　In　the　reactivation　period,　the　faster　recovery　of　AOB　activity　and　cell　number,　relative　to　NOB,　particularly　in　aerobic　case,　led　to　temporary　nitrite　accumulation.　Besides,　the　sludge　settleability　rapidly　improved　(SVI　of-30　mL/g)　due　to　filamentous　bacteria　suppression　under　aerobic　starvation,　while　the　filaments　(e.g.　Type　0092)　overgrew　(SVI　of-250　mL/g)　under　anoxic　starvation,　triggering　unexpected　biomass　loss　and　going　against　the　nitrifying　performance　recovery　of　the　system.　In　contrast,　alternating　anaerobic/aerobic　and　anaerobic　starvations　avoid　pure　aerobic　or　anoxic　starvation　condition,　effectively　maintaining　the　nitrifying　performance　and　LFB　state,　and　therefore　are　the　best　storage　strategies　for　LFB　sludge.　(c)　2021　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.