To see the effect of plasmolysis in the flesh, we used a one cell thick layer of red onion cells from the skin. Then added sucrose solution to one sample and nothing to the other samples. The results are below;
Conclusion
The first two pictures show the red onion cells in distilled water. The structure of the cell is maintained as it remains turgid, due to the pressure from the inside of the cell remaining constant as there is no net movement into or out of the cell. In the last two photos there is a clear change in the intracellular shape, shown by the reduction in size of the the pigmented area. This is due to osmosis occurring, this is the movement of water from a high concentration to a low concentration, down the concentration gradient. As the sucrose solution surrounds the cells, this provides the concentration gradient needed for water to move out of the cell. As the water moves out the cell, the cells loses its internal pressure and the cell membrane starts to move away from the cell wall, plasmolysis is occurring. The cell wall remains in its position, casting a shadow of the former cell.
The first two pictures show the red onion cells in distilled water. The structure of the cell is maintained as it remains turgid, due to the pressure from the inside of the cell remaining constant as there is no net movement into or out of the cell. In the last two photos there is a clear change in the intracellular shape, shown by the reduction in size of the the pigmented area. This is due to osmosis occurring, this is the movement of water from a high concentration to a low concentration, down the concentration gradient. As the sucrose solution surrounds the cells, this provides the concentration gradient needed for water to move out of the cell. As the water moves out the cell, the cells loses its internal pressure and the cell membrane starts to move away from the cell wall, plasmolysis is occurring. The cell wall remains in its position, casting a shadow of the former cell.