Important Topic: Plasmolysis

Introduction

Plant cells and animal cells are both eukaryotic, with different differences between them; whether the presence of cell walls in plants or the various sizes of the vacuole. These differences are a clear indication of the differences in their functions and the processes these cells go through. One of these important processes is Plasmolysis. Now, the question is, what is plasmolysis, and how can it be explained in science?

What is Plasmolysis?

Plasmolysis is a process in which a plant cell loses water when it is immersed in a hypertonic solution (a solution with a higher amount of solvents than a cell). The real process behind this is the flow of water to the outside due to osmosis, which leads to the collapse of the entire cell. Since osmosis requires zero energy, Plasmolysis becomes an uncontrollable process, although excessive dehydration can lead to the collapse of the cell wall.

Plasmolysis can be disrupted if the cell is kept for some time in a hypotonic solution. Stomata help to keep water in the plant from drying out. Wax also helps to keep water inside the plant. The accompanying process in animal cells is called crenation.

Internal and external factors have a significant impact on the plasmolysis form system and the duration of plasmolysis. The most important cellular components affected by the plasmolysis process are the protoplasmic viscosity, the cell wall attachment, and the pore size of the cell wall in some cell types. These influential factors can vary greatly as the cell type changes, plant years become longer, and the plant growth phase is during this process.

Types of Plasmolysis

One can easily find out that Plasmolysis occurs by looking at the gap between the cell wall and the plasma membrane. However, there are two types of Plasmolysis based on the concept of protoplasmic shrinking: Concave and convex plasmolysis.

Concave Plasmolysis- In this case, both the protoplasm and the plasma membrane shrink and leave the cell wall. As a result of the interaction of protoplasm (then called protoplast), a ‘half-moon shape’ formed in the cell. However, concave plasmolysis can be reversed by placing the cell in a hypotonic solution.

Convex Plasmolysis- This is an irreversible process. Excessive loss of water from the cell loosens the plasma membranes and protoplasts, leading to a breakdown in the cell wall. Since this process is irreversible, it results in the destruction of the cell. Thus, this is what happens when a plant withers and dies because of a lack of water.

Significance

Plasmolysis is a reversal used by a plant cell as opposed to a hypertonic site known for abundance. It is the result of the protoplasm dividing by colliding with the surrounding cell wall. When this happens to cells, the space between the cell wall and the protoplasm is filled with solutes. Next, water is dispersed in this area. The partial protoplasm from the cell wall directs that the plant needs to adjust its position and thus cause the plant to absorb water from its roots and avoid further water loss through the stomach machinery. Therefore, this can be interpreted as a benefit of plasmolysis as cytolysis has not yet occurred. However, excessive plasmolysis can eventually permanently lose its functional integrity, and sooner or later lead to the death of that cell.

Plasmolysis Process

The complete process of plasmolysis can be understood in three stages.

• Stage1– This is the first stage of the process where the cell begins to lose water, the cell size decreases, and the cell wall can be seen.
• Stage 2– This is the second stage when the cell has reached its peak, and the cytoplasm separates from the cell wall, forming a circle.
• Stage 3– In the last stage, the cytoplasm completely emerges from the cell wall and lies in the middle.

The whole process can be better understood with the plasmolysis diagram below. On the left is a cell placed in an Isotonic solution (solution with an equal amount of solute and cell), and on the right is a plasmolyzed cell. You can quickly notice the difference in cytoplasm formation in both of the diagrams mentioned below.

Plasmolysis vs. Flaccidity

In the strict definition, plasmolysis decreases the size of the protoplasm due to contact with the hypertonic environment. Flaccidity, on the other hand, is a loss of turgor due to a lack of fluid flow between the plant cell and the isotonic environment. Flaccidity, still, is compared to plasmolysis when it comes to cell turgor loss and leads to the bending of this plant.

Also, both of these conditions can be reversed back to normal in the turgor cell by creating a solution that blocks the cell to become hypotonic. However, the flaccid cell does not produce turgid or plasmolyzed.

Examples of Plasmolysis

Plasmolysis occurs in large amounts of water in the cell, and this makes it naturally rare. It can be proved when plants are exposed to coastal floods or chemical pesticides. A few common examples of plasmolysis include a reduction in food intake and embalming that adds too much salt to maintain it.

Cause of Plasmolysis

Plasmolysis occurs due to the state of Exosmosis when water cells move from a high concentration area to a low level of cell concentration throughout the surrounding cell membrane. When a cell is immersed in a hypotonic solution that has high levels of concentration the cell begins to shrink.

When a plant cell is stored within a hypotonic solution it concentrates water through the process of osmosis and the volume of water in the cell increases the pressure which then forces the protoplasm to touch the cell walls. This condition is commonly referred to as turgor when the plant cells are hard-pressed against each other in the same way and resist other water holes in a place known as full turgor. Plants remain upright due to the turgor in the plants used to propel them and stop the plant cell from overflowing. It simply gives strength to plant cells and when that strain is no longer present the plant can fall off from its weight pressure. The cell begins to degrade a load of turgor when there is no more air space around it and it results in severe osmotic stress that is within the cell itself.

Also read: Enzymes Types

FAQs

What is the Importance of Plasmolysis?

Plasmolysis is a process in which cells lose water through osmosis when immersed in a hypertonic solution. With this, we can better understand the osmosis process and differentiate the semi-permeable nature of the cell wall.

Why Is Plasmolysis Harmful To The Phone?

Water flows rapidly from the cell, just after immersion in a hypertonic solution, and the cell begins to shrink. These plasmolyzed cells become dehydrated and lose all function of life, sometimes leading to plant death.