Question

What in plant cells contributes to the solute potential?

Answer 1

Solute potential:

1. The solute potential is defined as the amount of pressure required to stop water from passing through a semipermeable membrane into a solution.
2. With an increase in solute concentration, solute potential declines; this results in a drop in total water potential.
3. In a plant cell, the solute potential, also known as the osmotic potential, is negative, while it is zero in purified water.

Plant cell's contribution to solute potential:

1. Plant cell forms the basis of plant tissue.
2. The cell wall, cell membrane, organelles, structure of cytoplasm, and cytosol form a typical structure of plant cell.
3. The cells in plants have a large central vacuole.
4. The contents like the vacuolar sap, contribute to the solute potential of the cell.
5. Plant cells, as opposed to animal cells, have a cell wall that encloses the cell membrane..