Functions of triacylglycerols during plant development and stress

Plant oil in the form of triacylglycerols (TAGs) is a major storage compound used as food, feed and sustainable feedstock for biofuel production. Recent findings suggest that TAGs are more than a carbon and energy reserve in seeds and other storage tissues. In vegetative tissues, TAG metabolism is involved in cell division and expansion, stomatal opening, and membrane lipid remodeling. Moreover, in reproductive tissues, TAGs are important for both organ formation and successful pollination. Here we provide a brief overview of the physiological function and contribution of TAGs during plant development under optimal and varying environmental conditions. These roles of TAGs need to be considered during engineering attempts to further improve TAG content in different tissues.