In: Biology
Describe why a plant cell would need a large center vacuole compared to an animal cell that only has smaller vacuoles.
Vacuoles are cell organelles found in both plants and animals cells , where they serve as storage organelle.
Animals have complex systems for various functions, like toxin removal , which are not present in plants. Hence plants rely on other mechanisms to perform the same task.
Now, plants cells need a larger central vacuole than animal cell because :
? plant cells need to store a greater amount of water, nutrients, toxins , etc for survival in adverse conditions than animals .
? vacoule stores a large amount of water which helps to maintain osmotic pressure and cell integrity. Without large vacoules there won't be enough water for plant cells to cope with water stress conditions and plant cells may disintegrate. Vacoules thus maintain cell size and shape in plant cells. But animals maintain cell shape by different mechanism.
? the water stored in plant vacoules is also essential to perform photosynthesis during times of need.