Catalyzes the reduction of fatty acyl-CoA and -ACP (acyl carrier protein) substrates to fatty alcohols (PubMed:19062129, PubMed:27274541). Triggers the accumulation of C16 and C18 fatty alcohols; converts palmitoyl-acyl carrier protein to the corresponding C16:0 alcohol with NAD(P)H as electron donor, but seems inactive toward palmitoyl- or other acyl-coenzyme A (PubMed:21813653). Triggers also the formation of some C16:0 aldehydes (PubMed:27274541). Involved in the synthesis of the lipid component in sporopollenin (PubMed:19062129). Required for exine patterning of pollen grain by mediating the formation of pollen wall substances (PubMed:9351246, PubMed:21813653, PubMed:21849515). a long-chain fatty acyl-CoA + 2 H(+) + 2 NADPH = a long-chain primary fatty alcohol + CoA + 2 NADP(+) 2 H(+) + hexadecanoyl-CoA + 2 NADPH = CoA + hexadecan-1-ol + 2 NADP(+) 2 H(+) + hexadecanoyl-[ACP] + 2 NADPH = hexadecan-1-ol + holo-[ACP] + 2 NADP(+) Optimum pH is 6. Optimum temperature is 30 degrees Celsius. Expressed in the tapetum of anthers. Expressed during microsporogenesis when microspores are released from tetrads. Repressed by imazethapyr (IM), an herbicide of the imidazolines family. Male sterility (PubMed:8390620, PubMed:9351246). Very thin pollen wall with abnormal exine patterning (PubMed:9351246, PubMed:21813653, PubMed:21849515). Belongs to the fatty acyl-CoA reductase family.