Differential lipidomics sheds light on the great improvement prospect of Akebia trifoliata as a new edible oil crop

Akebia trifoliata has demonstrated large potential as a novel edible oil crop. However, its lipidomic profile remains poorly understood. To explore the dynamics of lipid metabolism and support the agricultural development of this crop, we conducted untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis on two A. trifoliata genotypes: high-oil content “H543” and low-oil content “L2127.” This approach simultaneously identified 477 lipids in seed oil, which were categorized into 6 classes and 46 subclasses, along with a well-balanced fatty acid composition. Differential lipid analysis revealed 160 and 82 lipid compounds specific to different developmental stages in “L2127” and “H543,” respectively. Furthermore, 139 lipid compounds exhibited significant differential expression between the two genotypes, primarily associated with glycerophospholipid (Ko00564) and glycerolipid (Ko00561) metabolic pathways. Efficient phosphatidic acid/phosphatidylcholine-diacylglycerols-triacylglycerols pathways were identified as key contributors to the high oil content in “H543.” These results provide valuable insights into the metabolic mechanisms underpinning lipid biosynthesis, laying a robust foundation for the utilization of A. trifoliata as an oil crop.