Which organelle stores water and maintains turgor in plant cells?

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Multiple Choice

Which organelle stores water and maintains turgor in plant cells?

Explanation:
Water storage inside plant cells is handled by the large central vacuole. When this vacuole fills with water, it creates turgor pressure against the cell wall, which keeps the cell—and the whole plant tissue—rigid and upright. This turgor is essential for maintaining structure, especially in non-woody parts of the plant. The other organelles have different roles: the endoplasmic reticulum makes and transports proteins and lipids, the nucleolus builds ribosomes, and chloroplasts perform photosynthesis. None of these primarily manage water storage or turgor.

Water storage inside plant cells is handled by the large central vacuole. When this vacuole fills with water, it creates turgor pressure against the cell wall, which keeps the cell—and the whole plant tissue—rigid and upright. This turgor is essential for maintaining structure, especially in non-woody parts of the plant. The other organelles have different roles: the endoplasmic reticulum makes and transports proteins and lipids, the nucleolus builds ribosomes, and chloroplasts perform photosynthesis. None of these primarily manage water storage or turgor.

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