With the help of well-labelled diagrams, describe the process of plasmolysis in plants, giving appropriate examples.
Explanation Plasmolysis in plant cell occurs when a cell is kept in hypertonic solution i.e. a solution which has higher solute potential then another solution or cell sap. In the process, as soon as the cell is placed in the hypertonic solution the protoplast of plant cell withdraws from the cell wall and shrunk depending on the difference in concentration gradient of surrounding solution and cell sap. Due, to the process of exosmosis the water is lost from the cytosol and then from the vacuole to the surrounding solution. The space so formed between the cell wall and shrunken protoplast is occupied by the external hypotonic solution till the time when there is equal concentration gradient or osmotic gradient in the cell sap and external solution. The process can be reversed by placing the cell in hypotonic solution.
