A large permanent vacuole is found in a plant cell, not in an animal cell.
Details about the plant cell vacuole
- In mature plant cells, vacuoles tend to be very large and occupy a significant portion of the cell's volume, sometimes as much as 80% or more. This large vacuole is enclosed by a membrane called the tonoplast and is filled with cell sap.
- The central vacuole in plants serves multiple important functions such as storing water, salts, nutrients, and waste products, maintaining turgor pressure against the cell wall to provide structural support, assisting in plant growth, and playing roles in protection and storage of pigments and chemicals.
- The large vacuole helps maintain the cell’s rigidity and structural integrity by exerting pressure on the cell wall.
- In contrast, animal cells may have small vacuoles, but they are not large or permanent like in plant cells.
Thus, the characteristic large permanent vacuole is a hallmark of plant cells, enabling them to carry out key roles related to storage, structural support, and growth.
