Definition
noun, plural: proplastids
A small, colourless organelle that gives rise to a plastid (e.g. chloroplast, chromoplast, and leucoplast)
Supplement
A proplastid is an organelle found in the meristematic regions of the plant. It is colourless and small. It is from where plastids are derived. It is still undeveloped and may divide to produce more proplastids. As the cell containing proplastids mature, the proplastids transform and develop into plastids with specialized functions.
Plastids are organelles that come in different forms depending on their function. Plastids with chlorophyll (green pigment) are called chloroplasts. They give the plant parts the green colour. These plastids are involved in photosynthesis. Those that have other pigments are called chromoplasts. They are involved in producing and storing pigments, e.g. carotene, xanthophylls, etc. They abound in fruits, flowers, and roots. A plastid that lacks pigments is called leucoplast, and is involved mainly for storing food. A leucoplast may be an amyloplast that stores starch, an elaioplast that stores fat, or a proteinoplast that stores proteins. Tannosomes are also leucoplasts and are involved in the synthesis of tannins and polyphenols. Like mitochondria, plastids have their own DNA and ribosomes. Hence, they may be used in phylogenetic studies.
See also:
Dictionary > Proplastid
You will also like...

Human Neurology
Human Neurology deals essentially with the nervous system of humans. It also features the various theories put forward b..

Still Water Community Plants
This tutorial looks at the adaptations of freshwater plants for them to thrive in still water habitats. Familiarize your..

Control of Growth & Development
Control of Growth & Development tutorials look at how the genetic makeup determines the biological processes on a da..

Inheritance and Probability
Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, is most famous in this field for his study of the phenotype of pea plants, including ..

The Evolutionary Development of Multicellular Organisms
Multicellular organisms evolved. The first ones were likely in the form of sponges. Multicellularity led to the evolutio..

Soils
Nutrients in the soil are essential to the proper growth of a land plant. This tutorial deals with the properties of soi..