What condition is observed when a plant cell is placed in a hypotonic environment?

When a plant cell is placed in a hypotonic environment, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is lower than the concentration inside the cell. As a result, water moves into the cell through the selectively permeable cell membrane via osmosis. This influx of water causes the cell to swell, and as it expands, it exerts pressure against the rigid cell wall. This pressure is known as turgor pressure.

Turgor pressure is crucial for plant cells because it helps maintain structural integrity and prevents wilting. The rigidity provided by turgor pressure is essential for supporting the plant and enabling it to stand upright. In a hypotonic environment, the cell remains healthy and turgid, which is a desirable state for plant cells as it contributes to overall plant vitality and function.

In contrast, plasmolysis refers to the process where a plant cell loses water in a hypertonic environment, resulting in the cell membrane pulling away from the cell wall. Shrinkage and flaccidity are also associated with water loss, occurring in conditions where the surrounding solution has a higher concentration of solutes than the cell's interior. Thus, the observation of turgor pressure in a hypotonic environment highlights the importance of proper water balance for