Question

Which of the following are fat storing granules?
A) Elaioplasts
B) Amyloplasts
C) Aleuroplasts
D) None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Plastids are cellular organelles found primarily in plants and algae. They are membrane bound organelles and are known to store various molecules like proteins and fat granules which are used for producing energy and also as raw materials for biochemical processes in the plant.

Complete answer:
Option (A): Elaioplasts are modified leucoplasts. They are non-pigmented components of the plant cells that are known to store fatty acids, terpenes and various other forms of lipids. The elaioplasts are involved in lipid metabolism of the plants. They reproduce independently during cell division through the process of binary fission. Elaioplasts are present in oilseeds, citrus fruits and many flowering plants.
Option (B): Amyloplasts are specialized leucoplasts that store starch. They are membrane bound organelles found in cytoplasm of plant cells. Amyloplasts are non-pigmented organelles found in tissues specialized for storage and in the roots. If the amyloplasts are exposed to light for long periods, they can turn into chloroplasts.
Option (C): Aleuroplasts are also known as Proteinoplasts. They are typically found in plant cells and are responsible for storage of proteins. Aleuroplasts are a type of leucoplast and hence they are non-pigmented.

Option A is the correct answer.

Additional Information: Plastids are membrane bound organelles of plant cells. These organelles contain their own DNA. Plastids are of four types – Leucoplasts, Chromoplasts, Gerontoplasts and Chloroplasts. All of these types of plastids are derived from proplastids or undifferentiated plastids. A unique feature of the plastids is that the different types of plastids can redifferentiate into other forms of plastids. Elaioplast, Amyloplast and Aleuroplast are types of Leucoplasts found mainly in plant cells. Leucoplasts are a type of non-pigmented plastids. They are mainly storage granules found abundantly in non photosynthetic tissues roots, bulbs and seeds. Leucoplasts are generally smaller than their pigmented counterparts Chloroplasts which are green in colour and involved in photosynthesis. Chromoplasts are coloured plastids that are involved in pigment synthesis. Gerontoplasts are involved in disruption of the photosynthetic apparatus of the plant at the senescence phase of plant life.

Note: Plastids are present in plants. They can be pigmented or nonpigmented. Leucoplasts are non-pigmented plastids that function as storage molecules. Elaioplasts are specialized leucoplasts responsible for storing fat granules. They are also involved in fat metabolism.