I.
Plastids: General Information
Plastids are organelles found in all plant cells.
Termed by: Ernst Haeckel.
Types: There are three main types of plastids, categorized by Schimper based on the pigments
they contain:
1. Chloroplast: Green plastid.
2. Chromoplast: Colored plastid (non-green).
3. Leucoplast: Colorless plastid.
II. Leucoplast (Colorless Plastid)
Leucoplasts are colorless and primarily function in the storage of substances. They are classified
based on the type of substance they store:
1. Amyloplast: Stores starch. Examples: Wheat, Rice grains.
2. Aleuroplast (Proteinoplast): Stores protein. Example: Maize.
3. Elaioplast (Oliosome): Stores oil/fat. Example: Castor seed (Ricinus).
III. Chloroplast (Green Plastid)
The chloroplast is the site of photosynthesis.
Termed by: Schimper.
Discovered by: Sachs.
Granal Types:
- Granal: Found in Higher Plants.
- A-granal (Non-Granal): Found in Algae and Bundle Sheath cells of C4 plants.
Shape of Chloroplast (Examples):
Cup-shaped: Chlorella, Chlamydomonas.
Collar / Girdle / Horse Shoe-shaped: Ulothrix.
Star-shaped or Stellate: Zygnema.
Spiral-shaped or Scaliform (Ribbon shape): Spirogyra.
Reticulate or Net-like: Oedogonium, Cladophora.
Discoidal shape: Vaucheria, Chara.
Ovoidal shape: Found in Higher Plants.
Ultra-structure of Chloroplast:
The chloroplast is a double-membraned organelle containing an internal lamellar system.
Outer Membrane: Permeable due to the presence of Porins (integral proteins).
Inner Membrane: Impermeable.
Lamellar System: The internal membrane system, which is the structural unit of photosynthesis.
Thylakoids: Flattened sacs that make up the lamellar system. The space inside a thylakoid is called
the Lumen.
Granum (Plural: Grana): Stacks of thylakoids. The Light Reaction of photosynthesis takes place
here.
Stroma: The aqueous liquid or matrix surrounding the grana. The Dark Reaction of photosynthesis
takes place here.
Lamella: Inter-granal thylakoids that connect different grana stacks.
Quantasome:
Definition: The functional unit of photosynthesis.
Composition: A quantasome is made of approximately 230 pigment molecules.
Chlorophyll-a: 160 molecules.
Chlorophyll-b: 70 molecules.
Carotenoids: 50 molecules.
IV. Chloroplast and Chromoplast Pigments
Pigments of Chloroplast:
1. Chlorophyll Pigments:
Chlorophyll-a: C55H72O5N4Mg. Found in Chlorophyceae (Green Algae). The Universal Pigment.
Chlorophyll-b: C55H70O6N4Mg. Found in Chlorophyceae.
Chlorophyll-c: Found in Phaeophyceae (Brown Algae).
Chlorophyll-d: Found in Rhodophyceae (Red Algae).
Chlorophyll-e: Found in Xanthophyceae.
2. Carotenoid Pigments (2 Types):
Carotene: Gives a carrot color to plants. Chemical Formula: C40H56.
Xanthophyll: Gives a yellow-orange color to plants. Chemical Formula: C40H56O2.
Note on Chlorophyll Structure:
The chemical formula for chlorophyll is C55H72O5N4Mg.
When chlorophyll is burned, Mg2+ is left because Magnesium does not evaporate.
The difference between Chlorophyll-a and Chlorophyll-b is in one side chain:
Chlorophyll-a: Has a methyl group (CH3).
Chlorophyll-b: Has an aldehyde group (CHO).
Chromoplast (Colored Plastid):
Chromoplasts are responsible for giving color to fruits, seeds, and leaves.
They contain fat-soluble carotenoids.
Color Changes (Examples):
Green Tomato → Red Tomato: Occurs due to the replacement of chlorophyll by the leucopin
pigment (lycopene).
Green Chili → Red Chili: Occurs due to the replacement of chlorophyll by the capsanthin pigment.
Other Color Notes:
Red plastid: Rhodoplast.
Brown plastid: Phaeoplast.
Water Soluble Pigments:
Water-soluble yellowish pigments are present in the petals of Dahlia and other flowers:
Carotene, Xanthophyll, Anthoxanthin, Anthocyanin.
