Question 5 — Two students, Renu and Rohit - Questions at the end of the chapter - Chapter 2 - Cell: The Building Block of Life (Exploration)

Last updated at July 10, 2026 by

Q 5
Question

Two students, Renu and Rohit, were having a discussion on the plastids. Renu emphasised that all parts of the plants, even roots, contain plastids. However, Rohit did not agree with the statement and told her that plastids are absent in plant roots since the roots are underground and do not need to perform photosynthesis. Who is correct? Justify your answer.

Image: A plant with green leaves above ground and white roots below the soil, showing green chloroplasts in the leaves and colourless leucoplasts storing starch in the roots, proving roots also contain plastids.
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Answer
Renu is correct.

Explanation

  • Plastids are present in all parts of a plant, even roots.
  • Roots do not do photosynthesis, so they lack green chloroplasts.
  • But roots have colourless plastids called leucoplasts.
  • Leucoplasts store food like starch (for example, in potato).
Roots have leucoplasts, so they do contain plastids.
Leucoplasts Leuco colourless Plast plastid Colourless plastids in roots that store food; roots get no sunlight, so they have no green chloroplasts.
← Back to concept: 2.3.1 Plastids
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