What Is Plasmolysis? Understanding Plant Cell Stress (55)

Design and InstallationGarden Caregarden TriviaIndoor plantsLighting and IrrigationPlant Health Care
Written By Peter Morris

Turgidity

Normal cells are in a state that is called 'turgid'.  That is, they are pretty full of water and hence there is enough pressure against the cell wall for the cell membranes to keep their shape.

If the plant does not receive water in time - it wilts.  It's basically a result of water being used up faster than a cell can replace it.

A wilted plant can recover completely if watered in time !

If the wilt persists -  the cell shrinks further until it's cell membrane detaches itself from the cell wall.  The cytoplasm is now permanently damaged. This is a condition we know as plasmolysis.  It is expressed many times as brown dry leaf margins.

Brown dry edges is a symptom of water stress

Permanent damage

In many cases plasmolysis causes the death of the cell. However, should the cell re-hydrate in time, it may never return to full turgidity – it could be forever handicapped.

Damaged leaves are no longer able to unfurl or fully flatten their leaf blades.  Cells that recover but which never reach 100% turgidity are an open invitation to insects and diseases – as turgidity is an element in keeping the cell wall firm and strong - which makes it difficult for pests to enter. 

 Chloroplasts become damaged during plasmolysis and produce much less sugar

Since the cytoplasm is now squeezed into a smaller space, the cell metabolism is extremely compromised. In deciduous leaves this issue resolves itself after the fall with new spring leaves.  In evergreens it may persists for once or two seasons. All during this time the plant is underperforming and produces less sugar.

Both our Garden Care and Irrigation Teams at Plant Specialists are fully aware of these issues and keep a close eye on the watering situation in your garden!

PLANT SPECIALISTS

GREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 52 YEARS !

Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBA

All photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

Previous

A Guide to Growing Ornamental Banana Plants
Next

Watering Basics for Fuller Healthy Gardens