This volume contains a collection of papers devoted to all aspects of the study of plant lipid metabolism and molecular biology. It is an indication of the present state of knowledge of this very broad field, with information on recent studies in fatty acid and glycerolipid biosynthesis, membranes, isoprenoids and sterols, environmental effects on lipids, lipid degradation, oil seeds and fruits, and molecular biology and biotechnology. Particular emphasis is placed on the metabolism and molecular biology of oil seed plants, such as brassicas, Arabidopsis and soybean, and other oil-producing plants, such as olive and oil palm. Basic metabolic studies on a variety of microorganisms and plants from cyanobacteria to higher plants are also included.