Future oil crops
With continuously improving knowledge of biochemical processes of oil biosynthesis and the constantly increasing number of the sequenced plant genomes, a new era of oil crops seems not very far away. The successful engineering aimed at decreasing the starch and sugar content and increasing the oil content makes it possible to raise other edible crops, such as cassava (Manihot esculenta), sorgum (Sorghum bicolor), sugarcane (Saccharum), potato (Solanum tuberosum) that produce a small amount of oil. This is a difficult task; therefore, plants that contain a relatively large amount of oil and starch in seeds may serve as a source of important information. For example, oat (Avena sativa), corn (Zea mays) and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) accumulate high amounts of oil (10–20%) and a substantial amount of starch in their seeds. It is even more intriguing that yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) accumulates more than 25% of oil and 30% of starch in its tubers.