Final answer:
A plant wilts due to a drop in turgor pressure caused by a decrease in water availability or disruption in water balance. Vacuoles also play a role in maintaining turgor pressure. When they are not filled with enough water or nutrients, the plant wilts.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a plant wilts, it is typically due to a drop in turgor pressure. Turgor pressure is the pressure exerted by the fluid within the plant cells against their walls. This pressure helps maintain the rigidity of the plant.
When there is a decrease in water availability or a disruption in the water balance, such as excessive transpiration or lack of water uptake, the plant cells lose water, causing the turgor pressure to drop. As a result, the plant starts to wilt.
Vacuoles, which are membrane-bound organelles within plant cells, play a role in maintaining turgor pressure. They store water, nutrients, and waste products. When the vacuoles are not filled with enough water or when there is a deficiency in nutrients, the turgor pressure decreases, leading to wilting.
Learn more about Causes of plant wilting