Chloroplasts are specialized organelles in plant cells responsible primarily for photosynthesis, the process of converting light energy into chemical energy. They capture sunlight using pigments like chlorophyll and convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen, which sustains plant growth and provides oxygen for other organisms

. Beyond photosynthesis, chloroplasts have several important functions:

• They synthesize amino acids, fatty acids, nucleotides, vitamins, lipids, and secondary metabolites essential for plant metabolism and growth

• They produce plant hormones such as auxins and gibberellins that regulate development

• Chloroplasts store excess glucose as starch, which can be used later for energy

• They participate in plant stress responses by producing antioxidants and signaling molecules to help plants adapt to environmental stresses like heat, drought, and pathogens

• Chloroplasts have their own DNA and protein synthesis machinery, enabling them to regulate some of their functions independently

Structurally, chloroplasts have a double membrane enclosing the stroma, where the Calvin cycle (light-independent reactions) occurs, and an internal thylakoid membrane system organized into grana stacks, which house the pigments and enzymes for the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis

. In summary, the main function of chloroplasts is to conduct photosynthesis, producing energy-rich organic molecules and oxygen, while also playing vital roles in biosynthesis, storage, hormone production, and environmental stress responses in plants