Which plant-specific organelle stores water and maintains turgor pressure?

• A. Large central vacuole
• B. Lysosome
• C. Chloroplast
• D. Nucleus

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that plant cells maintain rigidity and drive many functions through turgor pressure, which comes from water stored in a large central vacuole. This organelle acts as a water reservoir that, when full, pushes against the cell wall and keeps the cell—and the plant tissue—turgid and upright. The vacuole can also hold ions and other solutes, contributing to osmotic balance and storage. If the vacuole loses water, the cell becomes flaccid and the plant wilts, showing how central vacuole water storage directly supports plant structure. The other organelles have different roles: lysosomes digest waste, chloroplasts carry out photosynthesis, and the nucleus houses genetic material and controls cell activities.