2. Introduction
• The most conspicuous compartment in most plant cells is a very large fluid
filled vesicle called a vacuole
• There may be several vacuoles in a single plant cell, each separated from
the cytoplasm by a single unit membrane called the tonoplast.
• Generally vacuoles occupy more than 30% of the cells volume. But this
may vary from 5% to 90% depending on cell type
• Generally plant biologist don’t consider vacuoles to be part of cytoplasm
they tend to consider nucleus, vacuoles and cytoplasm
3. • Vacuoles are structurally and functionally related to lysosomes of animal
cells they contain variety of hydrolytic enzymes
• Vacuoles usually contains sugars, salt, acids nitrogenous compounds such
as alkaloids and anthocyanin pigments.
• The pH of vacuoles is as high as 9 to 10 due to large quantities of alkaline
substances or as low as 3 due to the accumulation of acids.
4.
5. Function
• Act as a storage organelle for both nutrient and waste product.- vacuoles
can store many type of molecules in particularly harmful substances.
Vacuoles of rubber plant acts as site of rubber storage.
• Certain antinutritional factors like trypsin inhibitors, protease inhibitors are
present in vacuoles.
• Act as a controller of turgor pressure
