Regulation of Water
Regulation of Water
Richard V. Kowles
Saint Mary‟s University of Minnesota, Biology Department
700 Terrace heights, Winona, MN 55987
Abstract: Cell water relationships are important topics to be included in cell biology courses. Differences exist in
the control of water relationships in plant cells relative to control in animal cells. One important reason for these
differences is that turgor pressure is a consideration in plant cells. Diffusion and osmosis are the underlying factors
involved in the control of water in plant cells; however, additional attention must be given to osmotic pressure,
osmotic potential, and water potential. This discussion shows how these parameters relate to each other, and how
they are explained by thermodynamics and the universal gas laws. Detailed laboratory exercises are described that
demonstrate these principles. The laboratory exercises include data collection, graphing of data, statistical analysis
of data, and calculations of osmotic potential and diffusion pressure deficit from the data.
Keywords: Turgor, osmotic pressure, osmotic potential, water potential, diffusion pressure deficit
w = R T ln (e/eo)
Table 1. Sample data plotting percent plasmolyzed cells of onion tissue over a range of different sucrose
concentrations
0.55 50 50 100
0.50 46 50 92.0
0.45 50 64 78.1
0.40 44 64 68.8
0.35 25 50 50.0
0.30 12 62 19.4
0.25 5 48 10.4
0.20 3 55 5.5
0.15 2 57 3.5
0.10 1 41 2.4
0.05 0 40 0.0
Figure 4. Regression analysis and linear fit of sample data generated by plotting percent cells undergoing
plasmolysis on the Y-axis versus sucrose molarities on the X-axis. Incipient plasmolysis is arbitrarily assigned as
50% plasmolysis and used to determine OP.
.
Table 2. Sample data plotting percent change in weight of beet tissue over a range of different sucrose
concentrations
This molarity (0.264) in which 0% change in weight Mathematically, this is the same as n/V R T
occurred at 23 degrees C (room temperature) is And n/V is equal to M
placed into the following equation: Hence, P = M R T
DPD = (22.4) (.264) (296/273) = 6.41 atmospheres
One mole of gas occupies a volume of 22.4 liters at
Additional Explanations 273 degrees K.
Thus, pressure = (22.4) (M) (Temperature K/273),
Turgor pressure (TP) is equal to –OP + and the units of measurements are in atmospheres.
DPD, and this parameter could be calculated if the
OP and DPD determinations were made from the Osmotic potential is determined at the point
same type of tissue. However, TP is always a of incipient plasmolysis. All turgor pressure has been
positive quantity. removed at this point. Therefore, the osmotic
Osmotic relationships can be likened to the potential in the cell is equal to the osmotic potential
gas laws. The ideal gas law equation is given as of the particular sucrose solution causing incipient
follows: plasmolysis without turgor pressure interfering with
PV = nRT the measurement. Diffusion pressure deficit, on the
Where: P = pressure other hand, is determined as the point in which no
V = volume loss or gain in weight occurs in the tissue.
n = number of molecules Consequently, the measurement at this point takes
R = universal gas constant into account both the osmotic potential and the turgor
T = temperature Kelvin pressure of the cell, resulting in the diffusion pressure
Therefore, P = nRT/V deficit.
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