Question

What are Ergastic Substances? How are they formed?

Answer 1

Hint: They are raw materials or occur as a product of metabolism. The living protoplasm of a cell is often called the bioplasm and different from the orgastic substances of the cell.

Complete answer:
Ergastic substances are typically organic or inorganic substances that are products of metabolism and include crystals, oil drops, gums, tannins, resins, and other compounds that can assist the organism in defense, maintenance of the cellular structure, or just substance storage. In the protoplasm, in vacuoles, or the cell wall ergastic substances may appear.
Ergastic substances are non-protoplasm things found in cells.

Carbohydrates
Stored carbohydrates of plants are the derivatives of the end products of photosynthesis. Cellulose and starch are the chief ergastic substances of plant cells. Cellulose is the principal component of the cell wall, and starch occurs as a reserve material in the protoplasm.

Proteins
While proteins are the main constituent of living protoplasm, proteins can store inactive, ergastic bodies in an amorphous or crystalloid form. A renowned amorphous ergastic protein is gluten.

Fats and oils
Fats (lipids) and oils are broadly scattered in plant tissues. Substances associated with fats waxes, suberin, and cutin act as protective layers on the cell wall or inside the cell wall.

Additional Information:
They are found in:
• Vacuoles
• Cell wall
• Related with protoplasmic components

Note: Animals remove the excess of inorganic materials. Plants predominantly deposit such material in their tissues. Such mineral matter is chiefly salts of calcium and anhydrides of silica.
Ergastic Substances can be discovered & identified by:
• Physical and chemical test.
• Microscopic examination.