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Definition

noun, plural: amyloplasts

(botany)

A type of leucoplast found in the cytoplasm of a plant cell, and serves as storage organelle of amylopectin.

Supplement

Amyloplasts transform glucose into starch by polymerization and store the starch grains in the stroma. They are non-pigmented plastids, and most of them can be found in underground storage tissues of plants, such as potato.

Word origin: form of Gk ámylon: starch + Gk plastós: formed, molded.
Compare: elaioplast, proteinoplast.
See also: statolith, plastid, starch.