Question about epidermal and parenchyma cells

[AbominableMowman]

The stalk of a plant is split longitudinally (length ways) into 4 pieces. The pieces look like the diagram below. The bending shape is caused by the fact that the lignified (dead & woody) epidermal cells are not as soft and flexible as the parenchyma cells.


The other three strips were put in solutions of varying solute concentrations and the following results were obtained:


In each case, state whether the solution was isotonic, hypertonic or hypotonic
in relation to the cell contents as well as what has happened to the
Parenchyma cells in order to bring about the results above.

Does this mean that the epithelial part of the cell lost water, or the parenchyma part of the cell gained water?

[thushan]

It would be the parenchymal cells that change in size; even in epithelial cells lose or gain water, their size would not change much. Hence, we need only look at what happens to parenchymal cells.

Sugar conc A - hypotonic - the parenchymal cells gained water and so got bigger.
Sugar conc B - isotonic - no change in size
Sugar conc C - hypertonic - the parenchymal cells lost water and so got smaller.

[AbominableMowman]

It would be the parenchymal cells that change in size; even in epithelial cells lose or gain water, their size would not change much. Hence, we need only look at what happens to parenchymal cells.

Sugar conc A - hypotonic - the parenchymal cells gained water and so got bigger.
Sugar conc B - isotonic - no change in size
Sugar conc C - hypertonic - the parenchymal cells lost water and so got smaller.

Ohh so the epithelial don't change shape much at all..
THANKS

[Stick]

Wha the... This was on my SAC! What is the source of this question?

[AbominableMowman]

Wha the... This was on my SAC! What is the source of this question?

It was part of some practise questions i got from my teacher..
had my sac today though way easier than i expected it to be