Final answer:
Turgor is the pressure exerted by the fluid inside plant cells against the cell wall. It helps maintain the rigidity and shape of plant cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
Turgor is defined as the pressure exerted by the fluid inside the plant cells against the cell wall. It is a result of osmosis, which is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration. This pressure helps maintain the rigidity and shape of the plant cells.
For example, when a plant cell is placed in a hypotonic solution (lower solute concentration outside the cell), water will enter the cell through osmosis, causing the cell to expand. As the cell expands, it exerts turgor pressure against the cell wall, which supports the plant and prevents wilting.