Three kinds of plastid
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.
Step 1 of 4
- A plastid is a small part inside a plant cell.
- A chloroplast holds green chlorophyll. It builds food from light.
- A chromoplast holds a bright pigment, such as red.
- A leucoplast holds no pigment. It stores food.
Three kinds of plastid
| Plastid | Pigment | Job | Where you find it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chloroplast | Chlorophyll, green | Builds food from light | A green leaf |
| Chromoplast | A bright pigment, such as red | Colours petals and ripe fruit | A ripe tomato |
| Leucoplast | No pigment | Stores food, such as starch | A potato |
A potato grows under the soil. Its cells have leucoplasts. The leucoplasts store starch. Starch is a food.