Final answer:
The phenomenon of the cell membrane receding from the cell wall when a plant cell is placed in a hypertonic solution is referred to as plasmolysis. This happens when water moves out of the cell due to the hypertonic solution, leading to the shrinking of the cell membrane and its detachment from the cell wall. Unlike animal cells which burst when they lose too much water, plant cells lose the turgor pressure that keeps them upright, leading to a wilting effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
The receding away of the cell membrane from the cell wall along with the protoplasmic contents when a plant cell is placed in a hypertonic solution is called plasmolysis. This process effectively detaches the cell membrane from the cell wall, constricting it as a result of water particles moving out of the cell. In contrast to animal cells which burst or lyse under excessive water expansion, plant cells have evolved to have rigid cell walls that prevent lysis.
When a plant cell is exposed to a hypertonic solution, it begins losing water, causing the cell to shrivel. However, since the wall of the plant cell is rigid, it doesn't shrink but the plasma membrane pulls away from the cell wall, a process known as plasmolysis. The cell loses turgor pressure which leads to the wilting of the plant.
In effect, the hypertonic environment causes plasmolysis, leading to plant cells losing their stiffness and wilting. Conversely, when these cells are in a hypotonic environment, water tends to move into the cells, causing them to become turgid or stiff through a process called turgor pressure.
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