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AAT Bioquest

Where do we find Chloroplasts and Chromoplast pigments in plants?

Posted August 25, 2022


Answer

Chloroplasts are a type of double-membraned plastid that occur in all green tissues of a plant. Their concentration is highest in the parenchyma cells of the leaf mesophyll. The photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll is located in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast, which lies between the chloroplast’s outer and inner membranes. 

Chromoplasts are pigmented plastids mainly found in the stroma of colorful plant parts such as flower petals and fruits. They are also found in some leaves and roots. These plastids lack chlorophyll but contain carotenoid pigments, which are responsible for imparting colors such as red, yellow, and orange to flowers and fruits. The main function of chromoplasts is synthesizing and storing carotenoid pigments in flowers and fruits, and in certain leaves and roots. 

Additional resources

Cell Structures and Organelles

The chloroplast-associated protein degradation pathway controls chromoplast development and fruit ripening in tomato