What is a Chloroplast and what is its Function

What is a Chloroplast and what is its Function

Plastids :
Plastids are organelles enclosed by a double membrane found in all plants.

Historical Account :
E.Heckel (1865) gave the term plastid. Plastids are largest cell organelles.

Ultrastructure :

Plastids occur in most plant cells and are absent in animal cells.
Plastids are self replicating organelles like  mitochondria i.e. they have the power to divide.
Schimper divided plastids into three types :

  1. Chromoplast – Coloured plastids (except green colour)
  2. Chloroplast – Green coloured plastids
  3. Leucoplast – Colourless plastid.

Plastids also have double membrane but no cristae.

Functions of Plastids :

  1. Chloroplasts trap solar energy and utilized it to manufacture food for the plant.
  2. Chromoplast impart various colour of flower to attract insect for pollination.

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