A Lipidomic Analysis Reveals Dynamic Changes of Polar Lipids for Oil Biosynthesis During Cotyledon Development in Perilla frutescens

) is an important oilseed crop valued for its rich content of nutraceutical compounds and polyunsaturated fatty acids. While triacylglycerol biosynthesis has been studied, the role of polar lipids during seed development remains poorly characterized. Here, we performed a comprehensive lipidomic analysis of polar lipids in developing perilla seeds across three key stages. A total of 147 molecular species from 10 polar lipid classes were identified. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were the predominant phospholipids, and both decreased markedly during development, with phosphatidylcholine showing the most significant reduction. In contrast, lysophosphatidic acid increased substantially by 62.4%. Conversely, the galactolipids monolactodiacylglycerol and digalactosyldiacylglycerol showed a decline in perilla during cotyledon development. Additionally, the unsaturation index of most polar lipids decreased during development. These variation characteristics of polar lipids during growth and development may suggest an adaptive strategy for oil accumulation in perilla.