Final answer:
A plant cell in a solution with a higher water potential will gain water and become turgid, due to the increased turgor pressure, and this scenario supports the structural integrity and function of plant tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
A plant cell placed in a solution with a higher water potential will gain water and become turgid.
When a plant cell is in an environment where the water potential outside the cell is higher than inside, water moves into the cell through osmosis. As the water enters the cell, it moves into the central vacuole, increasing the turgor pressure within the cell. This pressure pushes the cell membrane against the cell wall, making the cell firm or turgid, which is essential for the structural integrity of plant tissues.
Unlike animal cells, plant cells do not lyse when they become turgid because the rigid cell wall prevents excessive expansion and lysis. Plant cells typically function best in a hypotonic environment where the water potential is higher outside than inside, leading to the gain of water and turgidity. On the contrary, if a plant cell is placed in a solution with lower water potential (hypertonic), it would lose water and might undergo plasmolysis, where the cell membrane detaches from the cell wall and the cell becomes flaccid.