Define plant cell vacuoles

Question

Define plant cell vacuoles? What are their fundamental functions? How is the covering membrane of the vacuoles termed?

Answer 1

Plant cell vacuoles are cell structures delimited by the membranes in which there is an aqueous solution made up of numerous substances such as proteins and carbohydrates. In young plant cells numerous small vacuoles can be seen; in adult cells the most portion of the internal region of the cell is occupied by the central vacuole.

The major function of the vacuoles is the osmotic balance of an intracellular space. They act as “an external space” within the cell. Vacuoles absorb or discharge water in response to the cellular metabolic requirements by rising or lowering the concentration of osmotic particles dissolved in cytosol. Vacuoles as well serve as storage place for certain substances.

The membrane which delimits the vacuoles is termed as tonoplast, named subsequent to the osmotic function of structure.