I am kind of confused with the Turgor Pressure and Pressure Potential. Are both the same thing?
Answers
Osmotic pressure relates the the difference between the pressure of water.
Turgor pressure relates to the pressure exerted by the cytoplasm of the cell on its wall.
You can't say that the cell wall has more osmotic pressure, only the water does. Also you can't say the water in the cell has turgor pressure, it EXERTS turgor pressure on the cell wall.
Plant cells are very much like your own cells, except they are surrounded by a cell wall. This cell wall is part of what gives plants such a rigid and sturdy structure. Plant cells need a certain amount of pressure to make sure that the cell wall stays rigid. Pressure from fluid within the cell pushing against the cell wall is called turgor pressure.
Essure potential Symbol Ψ is the component of water potential due to the hydrostatic pressure that is exerted on water in a cell. In turgid plant cells it usually has a positive value as the entry of water causes the protoplast to push against the cell wall. In xylem cells there is a negative pressure potential, or tension, as a result of transpiration. Water at atmospheric pressure has a pressure potential of zero.
Hope this helps!