Question map
In plant cells, the turgidity and rigidity is provided by
Explanation
In plant cells, turgidity and rigidity are primarily provided by vacuoles filled with cell sap. Plant cells typically contain a large central vacuole that stores water, mineral salts, sugars, and amino acids [1]. This fluid, known as cell sap, exerts hydrostatic pressure—referred to as turgor pressure—against the cell membrane and the rigid cell wall [3]. This internal pressure pushes the plasma membrane against the wall, maintaining the cell's shape and providing structural integrity to the plant tissues [3]. While other organelles like ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis, mitochondria for cellular respiration, and the Golgi apparatus for packaging and transport [4], it is the osmotic potential and resulting turgor within the vacuole that keeps the plant upright and prevents wilting.
Sources
- [1] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > A step further > p. 13
- [3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4204789/
- [4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9838/