Question

Tradescantia leaf epidermal peel was taken and
a. Placed in salt solution for five minutes.
b. After that it was placed in distilled water.
When seen under the microscope what would be observed in a and b?

Answer 1

Hypertonic solution:

Salt solution is hypertonic thus the water potential outside the epidermal cells of Tradescantia leaf would be low compared to inside the cells.

Exosmosis:

Exosmosis would take place from a region of high water potential to a region of low water potential. Therefore water will leave the epidermal cells. Continuous exosmosis would result in the cells becoming flaccid and then plasmolysed.

Observation in ‘a’:

In case a cell under the microscope would look shrunken wherein the cell membrane and the contents will be withdrawn from the cell wall.

Deplasmolysis:

Distilled water is a hypotonic solution thus the water potential is now higher than inside the epidermal cell. Water enters the cell making the cell turgid. The recovery of the plasmolysed cell is called deplasmolysis.

Observation in b:

In case b the cell would look turgid with no space seen between the cell wall and the cell membrane.

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