Answer: Plasmolysis.
- A Turgidity
- B Imbibition
- C Translocation
- D Plasmolysis
Correct answer: D. Plasmolysis
Explanation: Plasmolysis occurs when a plant cell loses water by osmosis in a hypertonic external solution, causing the cell membrane and cytoplasm to shrink away from the rigid cell wall.
Water can travel through cell walls (apoplast) or cell-to-cell through the cytoplasm (symplast) - but the Casparian strip at the endodermis blocks the apoplast route entirely, forcing everything through a selectively permeable membrane (symplast) before it can enter the xylem.
Concept context
Water and mineral absorption, the ascent of sap, transpiration, and phloem transport via the pressure flow hypothesis.