Plant Cell Organelles: Plastids, Nucleolus, Ribosomes, ER, and Microbodies (Vocabulary)

Vocabulary flashcards covering plastids (chloroplast, chromoplast, leucoplast and subtypes), nucleus/nucleolus, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, and microbodies based on the lecture notes.

Plastids

Family of plant cell organelles that differentiate into chloroplasts, chromoplasts, and leucoplasts, serving photosynthesis, pigment storage, and other storage roles.

Chloroplast

Green plastid where photosynthesis occurs; contains chlorophyll and has its own DNA and ribosomes.

Chromoplast

Pigment-containing plastid rich in carotenoids; gives yellow/orange/red colors to fruits and flowers; not primarily photosynthetic.

Leucoplast

Colorless plastid involved in storage; gives rise to amyloplasts, proteinoplasts, and elaioplasts.

Amyloplast

Leucoplast that stores starch; non-pigmented, often located in roots and storage tissues.

Proteinoplast

Leucoplast that stores proteins as a storage product.

Elaioplast

Leucoplast that stores oils (lipids) as a storage product.

Nucleus

Membrane-bound organelle containing the cell’s DNA; controls cellular activities and houses the nucleolus; site of transcription.

Nucleolus

Dense region inside the nucleus where ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis and ribosome assembly begin.

Ribosome

The function is make protein and building blocks of protein

Endoplasmic Reticulum

Network of membranous tubules and sacs; rough ER has ribosomes and synthesizes proteins, while smooth ER lacks ribosomes and synthesizes lipids and detoxifies compounds.

Microbody

Small spherical organelle (about 0.5–1 μm in diameter) containing enzymes for specific metabolic pathways (e.g., peroxisomes).

Chromatin

Long strands DNA that holds the information to make protein and when to make protein