A botanist wilts a leaf overnight by withholding water. Microscopy shows that the central vacuoles of mesophyll cells have shrunk and the leaf has lost rigidity. Watering restores the leaf within hours, and the central vacuoles re-expand.
The mechanical role of the central vacuole in maintaining leaf rigidity is BEST described as:
- A
Generating osmotic pressure that pulls water out of the cell
- B
Hydrolyzing cellulose to soften the wall
- C
Producing chlorophyll to absorb light
- Dcheck_circle
Generating turgor pressure that pushes the membrane against the cell wall
Explanation
A water-filled central vacuole exerts outward turgor pressure against the cell wall; loss of vacuolar water reduces turgor and the tissue wilts.