The Biochemistry of Plants: A Comprehensive Treatise, Volume 9: Lipids: Structure and Function focuses on the advancements in the methodologies, principles, techniques, and technologies involved in plant lipid research. The selection first elaborates on the analysis and structure determination of acyl lipids, oxidative systems for modification of fatty acids, and lipases. Topics include lipid acyl hydrolases, properties of the lipoxygenase reaction, metabolism of the hydroperoxide products of lipoxygenase, physical and chemical methods of structure determination, and chromatographic methods of separation. The manuscript then examines the biosynthesis of saturated fatty acids, biochemistry of plant acyl carrier proteins, and biosynthesis of monoenoic and polyenoic fatty acids. Discussions focus on polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and regulation, molecular biology, and immunological characterization of acyl carrier proteins. The publication ponders on lipids of blue-green algae, lipid-derived defensive polymers and waxes and their role in plant-microbe interaction, sulfolipids, and galactolipid synthesis. The selection is a vital source of information for researchers interested in the structure and functions of lipids.