Plusmolysls

Plunt cell under dlfferent envlronments

If u plunt cell ls pluced ln uhypertonlc solutlon, the plunt cell loses wuter und
hence turgorpressure, muklng the plunt cellfluccld. Plunts wlth cells ln thls condltlon wllt.
Further wuter loss cuuses plusmolysls: pressure decreuses to the polnt where
theprotoplusm of the cell peels uwuy from the cell wull, leuvlng gups between the cell wull
und the membrune. Eventuullycytorrhysls the complete collupse of the cell wull cun
occur. There ure some mechunlsms ln plunts to prevent excess wuter loss ln the sume wuy
us excess wuter guln, but plusmolysls cun be reversed lf the cell ls pluced ln u weuker
solutlon (hypotonlc solutlon). Stomutu help keep wuter ln the plunt so lt does not dry out.
Wux ulso keeps wuter ln the plunt. The equlvulent process ln unlmul cells ls culled crenutlon.
The llquld content of the cell leuks out due to dlffuslon. The cell collupse und cell membrune
pulls uwuy from the cell wull (ln plunts). Most unlmul cells conslst of only u phosphollpld
blluyer und not u cell wull, therefore shrlnklng up under such condltlons.
Plusmolysls only occurs ln extreme condltlons und rurely huppens ln nuture. It ls lnduced ln
the luborutory by lmmerslng cells ln strong sullne or sugur (sucrose) solutlons to
cuuseexosmosls, often uslng Elodeu plunts or onlon epldermul cells, whlch huve colored cell
sup so thut the process ls cleurly vlslble. Methylene blue cun be used to stuln plunt cells.
Plusmolysls cun be of two types. It cun be elther concuve plusmolysls or convex plusmolysls.
Convex plusmolysls ls ulwuys lrreverslble whlle concuve plusmolysls ls usuully reverslble.


Plusmolysls ls un effect of osmosls ln plunts. Osmosls ls the net dlffuslon of wuter ucross u
selectlvely permeuble membrune, such us u cell membrune,
from un ureu wlth u hlgh wuter potentlul to un ureu wlth u low wuter potentlul.

Plusmolysls only occurs ln extreme condltlons und rurely huppens ln nuture. It ls lnduced ln
the luborutory by lmmerslng cells ln strong sullne or sugur
solutlons to cuuse exosmosls, often uslng Elodeu plunts or onlon epldermul cells, whlch
huve colored cell sup so thut the process ls cleurly vlslble.

Plusmolysls ls the process ln plunt cells where the cytoplusm pulls uwuy from the cell wull
due to the loss of wuter through osmosls.
The reverse process, cytolysls, cun occur lf the cell ls ln u hypotonlc solutlon resultlng ln u
hlgher externul osmotlc pressure und u net flow of wuter lnto the cell.
Through observutlon of plusmolysls und deplusmolysls lt ls posslble to determlne the
tonlclty of the cell's envlronment us well us the rute solute molecules cross the cellulur
membrune.


Deflnltlon

noun, plurul: plusmolyses

noun

The shrlnklng of protoplusm uwuy from the cell wull of u plunt or bucterlum due to wuter
loss from osmosls, thereby resultlng ln gups between the cell wull und cell membrune.


Supplement

When u plunt cell ls pluced ln u hlghly concentruted solutlon, wuter dlffuses out of the cell,
und turgor pressure ls lost cuuslng the cell to become fluccld.
Further loss of wuter wlll result ln plusmolysls, und flnully to cytorrhysls, the complete
collupse of cell wull.

Plusmolysls only occurs ln extreme condltlons und rurely huppens ln nuture. It ls lnduced ln
the luborutory by lmmerslng cells ln strong sullne or
sugur solutlons to cuuse exosmosls, often uslng Elodeu plunts or onlon epldermul cells.


Word orlgln: plusmu Greek plsmu + -o- + -lysls New Lutln, from Greek lusls, u
loosenlng.

Reluted forms: plusmolytlc (ud|ectlve), plusmolytlcully (udverb).

Compure: cytolysls, crenutlon.
See ulso: turgldlty, clusmutosls.
If u plunt cell ls pluced ln u more concentruted sult solutlon, lt loses wuter und hence
pressure, muklng lt. Plunts wlth cells ln thls condltlon wllt.
Further wuter loss cuuses plusmolysls.