Question

Define the term plasmolysis.

Answer 1

Plasmolysis is the process in which cells lose water in a hypertonic solution. If a plant cell is placed in a hypertonic solution the plant cell loses water So the turgor pressure decreases to the point where the protoplasm of the cell peels away from the cell wall and leaves the gaps between the cell wall and the membrane which makes the plant cell shrink. A continued decrease in pressure eventually leads to cytorrhysis which is the complete collapse of the cell wall.