Which term refers to organelles found in plants and algae that are used to synthesize and store food?

Which term refers to organelles found in plants and algae that are used to synthesize and store food?

• A. Chloroplasts
• B. Mitochondria
• C. Plastids
• D. Ribosomes

Answer: (C)

Plastids are the plant cell organelles that handle food-related tasks, and they come in several forms that together cover synthesis and storage. A key type is chloroplasts, which perform photosynthesis to make glucose and can contain starch temporarily, illustrating how plastids synthesize food. Other plastids, like amyloplasts, are specialized for storing starch, while leukoplasts store fats and other nutrients. Mitochondria, by contrast, mainly generate energy (ATP) and aren’t about storing food, and ribosomes build proteins rather than store or synthesize carbohydrates. Because plastids encompass both the synthesis and storage roles across these forms, plastids is the best term for organelles in plants and algae involved in synthesizing and storing food.

Plastids are the plant cell organelles that handle food-related tasks, and they come in several forms that together cover synthesis and storage. A key type is chloroplasts, which perform photosynthesis to make glucose and can contain starch temporarily, illustrating how plastids synthesize food. Other plastids, like amyloplasts, are specialized for storing starch, while leukoplasts store fats and other nutrients. Mitochondria, by contrast, mainly generate energy (ATP) and aren’t about storing food, and ribosomes build proteins rather than store or synthesize carbohydrates. Because plastids encompass both the synthesis and storage roles across these forms, plastids is the best term for organelles in plants and algae involved in synthesizing and storing food.