When a plant cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, the following effects occur:
- Water moves into the cell by osmosis, causing the cell to swell and become turgid/02%3A_Cell_Biology/2.01%3A_Osmosis).
- The cell wall prevents the cell from bursting/02%3A_Cell_Biology/2.01%3A_Osmosis).
- The increased turgor pressure helps maintain the shape of the plant and supports the plants structure/02%3A_Cell_Biology/2.01%3A_Osmosis).
In contrast, when a plant cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, the following effects occur:
- Water moves out of the cell by osmosis, causing the cell to lose water and become plasmolyzed/02%3A_Cell_Biology/2.01%3A_Osmosis).
- The protoplasm of the cell peels away from the cell wall, leaving gaps between the cell wall and the membrane, and making the plant cell shrink and crumple.
- The plant loses turgor pressure, and the plant may wilt/02%3A_Cell_Biology/2.01%3A_Osmosis).
It is important to note that plant cells tend to do best in a hypotonic environment, where they can maintain their turgor pressure and support the plants structure/02%3A_Cell_Biology/2.01%3A_Osmosis).
