Plastids are the large cell organelles which is present in plants, algae and few eukaryotic cells. Plastids perform some special functions such as photosynthesis, production and storage of metabolites.
There are four types of Plastids: Chromoplast, Leucoplast, and Chloroplast.
- Chloroplasts:- This is green plastids which contain chlorophyll pigments. This pigment takes part in the process of photosynthesis.
- Chromoplasts:- This is the coloured plastids for pigment synthesis and storage. The pigment present in them is carotene which gives a different colour to fruits and flowers.
- Gerontoplasts:- This kind of plastid develops from a chloroplast during the senescing of plant foliage.
- Leucoplasts: It is colourless plastids for monoterpene synthesis found in non-photosynthetic parts of the plants.
