Question

How do bacteria and fungi survive in very dilute external medium?

Answer 1

Bacteria and fungi can survive in very dilute external medium, that is in hypotonic solution. In hypotonic medium, bacteria and fungi take up water from the external medium by the process of osmosis. Due to high amount of water inside, the cell swells up and builds up pressure against the cell wall. At this point, the cell wall exerts an equal pressure against the swollen cell because of their walls, Hence, cells with cell wall kike bacteria and fungi can withstand extreme changes in the external environment.