Characterization of oil and starch accumulation in tubers of Cyperus esculentus var. sativus (Cyperaceae): A novel model system to study oil reserves in nonseed tissues
Premise of the study: Storage oil (triacylglycerol) accumulates in tissues such as the embryo and endosperm of seeds and the fruit mesocarp, but seldom in underground organs. As a rare exception, cultivated variants of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) contain high amounts of both oil and starch in the mature tubers. Methods: Biochemical analyses and light and electron microscopy were used to s