Final answer:
The tonoplast is a vital cellular membrane that surrounds the central vacuole in plant cells, including those in beetroots (Beta vulgaris), regulating osmotic balance and storing various substances.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tonoplast is a membrane that encloses the central vacuole in a plant cell. In the case of Beta vulgaris, which is commonly known as the beetroot, the tonoplast plays a critical role in maintaining the cell's osmotic balance, storing nutrients and waste products, and segregating materials that could be harmful to the cell.
The tonoplast is significant for the proper functioning of the vacuole, which contains betalains responsible for the red color in beetroots and is used to study membrane permeability. This research is essential not only for botanical studies but also for understanding fundamental cellular processes.