In plants, what is the primary form of stored polysaccharides?

In plants, the primary form of stored polysaccharides is starch. Starch is composed of long chains of glucose molecules and serves as a vital energy reserve for plants. It is stored in various plant tissues, particularly in roots, tubers (like potatoes), and seeds.

When plants produce glucose through photosynthesis, they convert some of this glucose into starch for efficient storage. This stored starch can later be broken down into glucose and used for energy during periods when photosynthesis is not possible, such as at night or during the winter when the plant may not be actively growing.

Glycogen, another polysaccharide, is primarily found in animals and serves a similar energy storage function, but it is not the main storage form in plants. Cellulose, while also a polysaccharide, is primarily a structural component of plant cell walls and is not used for energy storage. Sucrose is a disaccharide sugar used for transport of energy and carbon in plants rather than for storage. Therefore, starch is the correct answer as it is specifically adapted for energy storage within plant biology.