Question

Element responsible for maintaining turgor is?
(a) K
(b) Na
(c) Ca
(d) Hg

Answer 1

Hint: Turgor is the pressure created by a fluid in a cell that compresses the cell membrane towards the cell wall. The rigidity of the plant tissue is due to the turgor pressure and the loss of terga results in the loss of water from the plant cells.

Complete answer:
Potassium (K) is responsible for maintaining a turgor. Turgor pressure is also defined as hydrostatic pressure as it measures the pressure created by a fluid to a certain point within itself when at equilibrium. The osmotic flow of water creates turgor pressure which is seen in fungi, plants and bacteria. The protist consisting of cell walls also shows turgor pressure and it is not seen in animal cells due to the presence of cell walls. The cell starts lysing under too much pressure and the pressure exerted by the flow of water is known as turgidity which is caused due to the osmotic flow of water from a selectively permeable membrane.
Turgor pressure is beneficial in plant cell growth where the cell wall undergoes a reversible expansion. This is because the force of turgor pressure and the structural changes in the cell makes it different for its extensibility. The value of turgor pressure is affected by two factors which include the volume and geometry of the cell. The cell acquires turgidity at a point where the cell's membrane pushes it towards the cell wall and when the turgor pressure is high. The cell becomes flaccid when the cell membrane consists of low turgor pressure. This creates a wilted anatomical structure which is known as plasmolysis.

So, the correct answer is option (a)'K'.

Note:
The cell wall needs to maintain a certain turgor pressure to avoid the low acidic pH which results in the ability of the plant cells and cell walls to elongate and expand quickly. This results in an acidic solution of the cell wall which becomes more acidic. The loss of turgor pressure creates the wilting of leaves.