17] Plasmolysis and deplasmolysis

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the general techniques of plasmolysis, its modifying factors, experimental conditions that could counteract its inherent problems, and applications of plasmolysis techniques for measuring some cell qualities. Internal and external factors greatly affect plasmolysis form and plasmolysis time. The most important cell factors affecting plasmolysis are cell wall attachment, protoplasmic viscosity, and, for some cell species, cell wall pore size. These factors vary greatly with cell type, plant age, and stage of development. Deplasmolysis is the opposite process of plasmolysis; when the concentration of the solution external to a plasmolyzed cell is decreased or when solutes permeate from the external solution into the vacuole, water will reenter the vacuole, and the increase in protoplast volume leads to restoration of full turgidity. Plasmolysis form and time have been used to interpret protoplasmic viscosity and cell wall attachment, and plasmolysis has been used intensively to investigate the protoplasm after the alteration of the environment.