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Multiple Choice
Which polysaccharide do plants store in plastids as an energy reserve?
A
Cellulose
B
Starch
C
Glycogen
D
Chitin
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the role of polysaccharides in plants. Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides (simple sugars) that serve various functions, such as energy storage and structural support.
Step 2: Recall the function of plastids in plants. Plastids, such as chloroplasts and amyloplasts, are specialized organelles that store energy and perform photosynthesis. Amyloplasts specifically store starch as an energy reserve.
Step 3: Differentiate between the polysaccharides listed in the problem. Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide found in the cell walls of plants, glycogen is an energy storage polysaccharide found in animals, and chitin is a structural polysaccharide found in fungi and arthropods.
Step 4: Identify starch as the correct polysaccharide for energy storage in plants. Starch is composed of amylose and amylopectin, which are stored in plastids like amyloplasts.
Step 5: Conclude that starch is the polysaccharide plants store in plastids as an energy reserve, based on its function and location within plant cells.