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The glucose made in photosynthesis is transported around the plant as soluble sugars. Glucose is used in respiration to release energy for use by the plant's cells. However, glucose is converted into insoluble substances for storage. These insoluble storage substances include:

The advantages of using insoluble substances such as starch for storage, rather than soluble substances such as glucose, include:

They do not affect the water concentration inside cells

They do not move away from the storage areas in the plant

Glucose and starch can be converted into other substances in plants. For example:

Cellulose for cell walls

Proteins for growth and repair