Which organelle is not found in plant cells? Vacuoles, mitochondria, chloroplast, or centriole?

Question:- Which organelle is not found in plant cells? Vacuoles, mitochondria, chloroplast, or centriole?

Answer: The correct option is centriole.

The centrioles are missing in the plant cells of most types. Centrioles are double cylinders made up of microtubules and are only found in animal cells. They are integral to the structure of mitotic spindle in the cell division process thus exerting significant influence on the process. However, plant cells do not possess centrioles and hence, they do not originate centrosomes; instead, these cells make use of other structures called the microtubule-organizing centres or MTOCs that are instrumental in the formation of the mitotic spindle.

However, the other organelles highlighted; vacuoles, mitochondria and chloroplasts are present in plant cells. Lysosomes are large membrane-enclosed structures for the storage of water, nutrients and other waste materials. Mitochondria is responsible for metabolism and also the generation of power in the cells. Chloroplasts are the organelles specific to plant cells which are specialized to perform photosynthesis; the process of conversion of light energy into chemical energy.