plasmolysis

American  

[plaz-mol-uh-sis] / plæzˈmɒl ə sɪs /

noun

Botany.

1. contraction of the protoplasm in a living cell when water is removed by exosmosis.

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plasmolysis British  

/ ˌplæzməˈlɪtɪk, plæzˈmɒlɪsɪs /

noun

1. the shrinkage of protoplasm away from the cell walls that occurs as a result of excessive water loss, esp in plant cells See exosmosis

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plasmolysis Scientific  

/ plăz-mŏl′ĭ-sĭs /

plural

plasmolyses

1. Shrinkage or contraction of the protoplasm away from the wall of a living plant or bacterial cell, caused by loss of water through osmosis. It results in loss of turgor and, in plants, wilting of the stems and leaves. If too severe, it can be fatal to the cell.

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Other Word Forms

• plasmolytic adjective
• plasmolytically adverb

Etymology

Origin of plasmolysis

First recorded in 1880–85; plasmo- + -lysis

Example Sentences

These cilia appear to be attached to the cell-wall, being unaffected by plasmolysis, but Fischer states that they really are derived from the central protoplasm and pass through minute pores in the wall.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 2 "Baconthorpe" to "Bankruptcy" by Various

Sap vacuoles must be distinguished from spores, on the one hand, and the vacuolated appearance due to plasmolysis, on the other.

From The Elements of Bacteriological Technique A Laboratory Guide for Medical, Dental, and Technical Students. Second Edition Rewritten and Enlarged. by Eyre, J. W. H. (John William Henry)

Examine microscopically and note the strongest solution which does not cause plasmolysis and the weakest solution which does plasmolyse the organism.

From The Elements of Bacteriological Technique A Laboratory Guide for Medical, Dental, and Technical Students. Second Edition Rewritten and Enlarged. by Eyre, J. W. H. (John William Henry)