Question

A student examined a particular plant cell through its various stages of growth. After making various measurements, he realised that the increase in cell size was largely due to enlargement of the central vacuole rather than an increase in the amount of cytoplasm. Why might this be an advantageous strategy for the cell?​

• A. All of these​
• B. Enlarging the cytoplasm would make the cell less turgid.​
• C. Enlarging the vacuole would minimise any lowering of the surface area - volume ratio of the cytoplasm.​
• D. Enlarging the vacuole would make it unnecessary for the cell wall to stretch.​

Answer 1

The correct option is C Enlarging the vacuole would minimise any lowering of the surface area - volume ratio of the cytoplasm.​

• A vacuole is a membrane-bound cell organelle. In plant cells, vacuoles help in maintaining the water balance.
• Plant cells possess a single large vacuole that takes up most of the interior space of the cell.
• Option C states that enlarging the vacuole would minimise any lowering of the surface area - volume ratio of cytoplasm, which is a correct statement.
• The reason behind this is that along with the size of the vacuole the volume of the cytoplasm will also increase.
• Thus the ratio of the surface area of the cell and volume ratio of cytoplasm will be maintained.