Plant Organelles and their Functions Ms. Toledo’s 9 th grade Biology Class

Plant Organelles

Cell Wall The cell wall is a thick, rigid membrane that surrounds, supports and protects the plant cell. It allows water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide to pass in and out of the cell. The cell wall is made out of cellulose.

Cell Membrane The cell membrane is inside the cell wall. It is composed of protein and fat. The cell wall is semipermeable which allows certain substances to pass into the cell while blocking others.

Vacuole The vacuole is a large, membrane- bound space in a plant cell that holds food, water, and waste. There is usually one vacuole in a plant cell that takes up most of the space and it also helps maintain the shape of the cell. When the vacuole is empty, the plant will droop, but when it is filled the plant will stand up straight.

Nucleus The nucleus is the largest organelle in the plant cell. The nucleus controls many functions, such as reproductions and growth, in the plant cell. It also contains DNA and is protected by a nuclear membrane.

Nucleolus The nucleolus is located in the nucleus. This is where RNA is produced.

Nuclear Membrane The nuclear membrane surrounds and protects the nucleus.

Chloroplast Chloroplasts are disc-shaped organelles that contain chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is what provides the green pigment of a plant. The chloroplast also allows plants to make their own food through photosynthesis. In order for photosynthesis to occur, chloroplast must be involved.

Mitochondrion The mitochondria converts energy that is stored in glucose and makes it into ATP so the plant cell can use it. It is sometimes referred to as the “powerhouse” of the cell. The mitochondria has a double membrane and an inner membrane that has many folds called cristae. e%20Powerhouse%20of%20a%20Cell

Cytoplasm The cytoplasm is a jelly-like substance in the cell that is outside of the nucleus. The organelles float in around in the cytoplasm inside of the plant cell.

Amyloplast The amyloplast are in some plant cells and it stores starch. They will most likely be in starchy plants such as fruits.

Centrosome The centrosome is also called the “microtubule organizer center” because this is where microtubules are made. The centrosome is located near the nucleus. Centrosomes play an important role during cell division. nt/support/illustrations/Cell%20Structures/

Rough ER The rough endoplasmic reticulum, rough ER, is covered with ribosomes. It transports material through the cell and also produces proteins that are later sent to the Golgi body. creticulum.html

Smooth ER The smooth endoplasmic reticulum, smooth ER, also transports material through the cell, but it does not contain ribosomes. The smooth ER contains enzymes, produces and digests fats, and membrane proteins. endoplasmic-reticulum

Ribosomes Ribosomes are small organelles that are used to make proteins and DNA. They float in the cytoplasm and are attached to the endoplasmic reticulum.

Golgi Body The Golgi body, also called the Golgi apparatus and Golgi complex, packages proteins and carbohydrates into vesicles. Once they are packaged, the Golgi body “exports” them out of the cell.

Works Cited "Mrs. Deringer - Life - Cells." Mrs. Deringer - Life - Cells. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb (Slide 2-17) "Plant Cell Anatomy - EnchantedLearning.com." Plant Cell Anatomy - EnchantedLearning.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb (Slide 2-17) (Slide 3) (Slide 4) (Slide 5) (Slide 6) (Slide 7) (Slide 8) (Slide 9) house%20of%20a%20Cell (Slide 10) house%20of%20a%20Cell (Slide 11) (Slide 12) s/Cell%20Structures/ (Slide 13) s/Cell%20Structures/ (Slide 14) (Slide 15) (Slide 16) (Slide 17)