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Lesson 5 of 13

Three kinds of plastid

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A leaf is green. A ripe tomato is red. A potato under the soil is white. Why?

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The rule

A plastid is a plant organelle. A chloroplast holds green chlorophyll and builds food from light. A chromoplast holds a bright pigment and colours petals and ripe fruit. A leucoplast has no pigment and stores food.

A plastid is a plant organelle. It is one of three kinds. A pigment is a coloured substance. Chlorophyll is the green pigment. A chromoplast holds a bright pigment. A leucoplast holds none.

A plastid is a small part inside a plant cell.
Step 1 of 4
  1. A plastid is a small part inside a plant cell.
  2. A chloroplast holds green chlorophyll. It builds food from light.
  3. A chromoplast holds a bright pigment, such as red.
  4. A leucoplast holds no pigment. It stores food.

Three kinds of plastid

Each plastid has a pigment and a job
PlastidPigmentJobWhere you find it
ChloroplastChlorophyll, greenBuilds food from lightA green leaf
ChromoplastA bright pigment, such as redColours petals and ripe fruitA ripe tomato
LeucoplastNo pigmentStores food, such as starchA potato

A potato grows under the soil. Its cells have leucoplasts. The leucoplasts store starch. Starch is a food.

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