Plasmolysis is a process that occurs in plant cells when they lose water in a hypertonic solution. This results in the shrinking of the protoplasm away from the cell wall, and the gap between the cell wall and the plasma membrane becomes visible. The process of plasmolysis can be reversed if the cell is placed in a hypotonic solution. Plasmolysis is induced in the laboratory by immersing cells in strong saline or sugar solutions to cause exosmosis, and it is mainly known as the shrinking of the cell membrane in hypertonic solutions. Plasmolysis can be of two types, either concave plasmolysis or convex plasmolysis.
Plasmolysis is a rare occurrence in nature and only happens in extreme cases of water loss. Some real-life examples of plasmolysis include the shrinkage of vegetables in hypertonic conditions and blood cells shrinking when they are placed in a hypertonic solution. Plasmolysis is mainly known as a response of the plant cell against a hypertonic surrounding.
