Here's how it works:
* Water Potential: Cells have a higher water potential than their surroundings, meaning water naturally wants to move into the cell. This is due to the presence of solutes within the cell.
* Hypertonic Environment: When a cell is placed in a hypertonic environment (a solution with a higher solute concentration than the cell), water flows out of the cell to try and equalize the concentration.
* Loss of Turgor Pressure: As water leaves the cell, the cell loses its turgor pressure, which is the pressure exerted by the cell's contents against its cell wall.
* Wilting: Without the turgor pressure, the cell becomes flaccid and the plant wilts.
Note: Plasmolysis is reversible if the cell is placed in a hypotonic solution (lower solute concentration), allowing water to flow back in and rehydrate the cell.
