Question

Cells of plants, fungi and bacteria can withstand hypotonic conditions without bursting. Give reason.

Answer 1

• The cells of plants, fungi and bacteria are surrounded by the cell wall.
• The cell walls of fungi, plants, and bacteria allow them to take up water via osmosis when they are placed in hypotonic media or a medium that is more dilute than their internal environments.
• The presence of cell walls outside the cell membrane allows these cells to tolerate high internal pressures.
• Hence, when these cells are placed in hypotonic solutions they swell up but do not burst.