Question

Is there a species specific or region specific type of plastids? How does one distinguish one from the other?

Answer 1

Yes, plastids are species or region specific. They are found in plants and in euglenoids.

There are different types of plastids which impart different colours. Thus, based on colour, plastids are categorised into three types:

1. Leucoplast- It is a colourless plastid. It is further divided into three types: Amyloplast (it stores starch), Elaioplast (It stores fats) and Aleuroplast- (It stores proteins).
2. Chromoplast- It imparts all the different colours to the plant part except the green colour. All the different colours of fruits and flowers are all because of this plastid.
3. Chloroplast- It imparts green colour as it contains chlorophyll which is a green pigment.