A plasmolysed cell is a plant cell that has shrunk due to the loss of water. This occurs when the cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, meaning a solution with a higher concentration of solutes than the cell's cytoplasm. The water inside the cell moves out to try to balance the concentration, causing the cell's protoplasm to shrink and detach from the cell wall.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
- Hypertonic solution: When a plant cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, water moves out of the cell through osmosis. This is because water always moves from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration, and in this case, the concentration of water is higher inside the cell than outside.
- Plasmolysis: As water leaves the cell, the cell's internal pressure decreases. This causes the protoplasm (the living contents of the cell) to shrink and detach from the cell wall. This process is called plasmolysis.
- Deplasmolysis: If the plasmolysed cell is placed back into a hypotonic solution (a solution with a lower concentration of solutes than the cell's cytoplasm), it can regain water and return to its normal shape. This process is called deplasmolysis.
Examples of Plasmolysis:
- If you place a plant cell in a concentrated salt solution, the cell will plasmolyse.
- If you place a plant cell in a sugar solution, the cell will also plasmolyse.
Practical Insights:
Plasmolysis is an important process that affects the survival of plant cells. When plants are subjected to drought conditions, they may experience plasmolysis. This can lead to wilting and even death of the plant.
