Question

The figure given below shows the epidermal cells of an onion bulb. This cell was then transferred to a drop of sugar solution.
(i) Draw a well labelled diagram of the epidermal cells as it would appear after immersion in a strong sugar solution.
(ii) What scientific term is used for the changes as shown in (i) above?
(iii) What should be done to restore the cell back to its original condition?
(iv) Give the scientific term for the recovery of the cell as a result of the step taken in (iii) above.
(v) Define the term osmosis.

Answer 1

(i) Above figure represents the plasmolyzed epidermal cell after placing in sugar solution ( Hypertonic solution ).

(ii) Plasmolysis is a scientific term used for the above change.

Plasmolysis occurs due to shrinkage of protoplasm when a plant cell is kept in a hypertonic medium and water flows out from a cell.

(iii) To restore the cell back to its original condition, it must be placed in a hypotonic solution immediately after it gets plasmolyzed.

(iv) Deplasmolysis is a scientific term used for recovery of the cell as a result of the step taken in (iii) above.
(v) Osmosis: It is the movement of water molecules from the region of its lower concentration to the region of higher concentration through a semipermeable membrane.