noun
- A colorless or nearly colorless plastid found in plant cells, typically involved in the storage of starch, oils, or proteins.
Usage: biology; also spelled leukoplast
Examples
- Leucoplasts in potato tubers store large amounts of starch.
- Unlike chloroplasts, leucoplasts lack pigmentation and do not perform photosynthesis.
- The root cells contain many leucoplasts for nutrient storage.
- Leucoplasts can develop into chloroplasts when exposed to light.
- Plant biologists study leucoplasts to understand how plants store energy.