Leucoplasts

Online Biology Dictionary


Home | About Us | Search | News | Biographies | Dictionary | Human Evolution | Donations


Leucoplasts (also leukoplasts) are colorless plastids found in endosperm, tubers, cotyledons, roots and other non-photosynthetic tissues of plants.

They serve various functions, for example storage of starch, lipids, or proteins. Plastids of these three types are respectively known as amyloplasts, elaioplasts, and proteinoplasts. A leucoplast may also perform biosynthetic functions such as the synthesis of fatty acids, amino acids, and various other compounds.

Although they vary in shape, a leucoplast is usually much smaller than a chloroplast.

More on next page →
Return to dictionary →


Share
leucoplasts
Potato leucoplasts.                  Image: Mnolf


Home | Biology News | Biology Dictionary | Blog | Famous Biologists