Summary
A fluid-filled organelle that stores water and nutrients; very large and central in mature plant cells.
In depth
The central vacuole is surrounded by a membrane called the tonoplast and can occupy 80 percent of a mature plant cell. It stores water, ions, sugars, pigments (such as anthocyanins) and toxic compounds, and it maintains turgor pressure.
A loss of water makes cells flaccid and the plant wilts. Animal and protist cells have smaller vacuoles; contractile vacuoles in freshwater protists pump out excess water.
Vacuoles take different forms across life. Contractile vacuoles in freshwater protists such as Paramecium pump out excess water that enters by osmosis, and food vacuoles carry out digestion. In plants, vacuoles also keep defence compounds such as alkaloids away from the cytoplasm and store the pigments that colour petals and autumn leaves.
A large central vacuole lets a plant cell grow cheaply: expansion is largely by taking up water rather than by making expensive cytoplasm. Guard cells open stomata by changing the vacuolar solute concentration.
Example: red cabbage and beetroot owe their colours to water-soluble pigments stored in vacuoles, which is why boiling leaks colour into the water.
Frequently asked questions
What is Vacuole?
A fluid-filled organelle that stores water and nutrients; very large and central in mature plant cells.
Which area of biology covers Vacuole, and how advanced is it?
Vacuole is one of the 52 topics in Cell Biology. It is rated Beginner, so it suits learners who are starting out in biology. Related topics in this area include Osmosis, Tonicity, Eukaryotic Cell.
Can you give an example of Vacuole?
The colour of red cabbage and many petals comes from pigments stored in vacuoles.
What should I learn before Vacuole?
Vacuole is a Beginner topic, so no earlier topic is required. Other Beginner topics in Cell Biology that pair well with it include Cell Theory, Prokaryotic Cell, Eukaryotic Cell.
What topics are related to Vacuole?
The closest topics to Vacuole are Osmosis, Tonicity, Eukaryotic Cell, Cell Wall. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Vacuole?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Vacuole. To practise the whole of Cell Biology, use the Cell Biology quiz.
How is Vacuole different from Osmosis?
Vacuole: A fluid-filled organelle that stores water and nutrients; very large and central in mature plant cells. Osmosis: The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane from lower to higher solute concentration. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Vacuole step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Osmosis and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Cell Biology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.