Diversity and plasticity of plastids in land plants

Abstract

Plastids represent a largely diverse group of organelles in plant and algal cells that have several common features but also a broad spectrum of differences in respect of how they look (color, size, and ultrastructure), and what their specific function and molecular composition is. Plastids and their structural and metabolic diversity significantly contribute to the functionality and developmental flexibility of the plant body throughout its lifetime. In addition, to the multiple roles of given plastid types, this diversity is accomplished in some cases by interconversions between different plastids as a consequence of developmental and environmental signals that regulate plastid differentiation and specialization.