The effect on Potato in Salt Solution. J de Salles

Potato in Salt Solution Scenario Plants in the soil have their roots in a dilute solution of mineral ions. When they are suddenly flooded with seawater, concentration of which is 0.3 molar Sodium Chloride, they are observed to wilt and become flaccid. Aim The aim of this experiment is to investigate the movement of water into and out of plant cells by osmosis. The cells chosen for study will be taken from potato tubers as they …

…the plant had become fully plasmolysed. This is where the connections between cells by cytoplasmic strands called plasmodesmata are broken and the cell is non-recoverable. If the cells have become fully plasmolysed then the plant cells are unable to cope with the low external water potential. If the cells have not become fully plasmolysed then recovery could be possible and the effects of osmosis have not been life-threatening for the plant in the short term.