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types of plastid

Chloroplasts visible in the cells of Plagiomnium affine

A plastid is a self-reproducing organelle of plants and algae. A plastome is the DNA genome of a plastid.^p341 They are like tiny machines inside cells: each makes or stores important chemicals used by the plant.

Examples of plastids are:

• Chloroplasts: photosynthesis; other plastids may have developed from chloroplasts. Etioplasts are chloroplasts which have not been exposed to light.
• Chromoplasts: pigment synthesis and storage.
• Leucoplasts: colourless, make terpenes such as resin. Sometimes they develop into more specialized types of plastid:
  • Amyloplasts: starch storage
  • Elaioplasts: fat storage.
  • Proteinoplasts: store & modify protein.
    • Statoliths: detect gravity.