turgor pressure maintenance
nounPronunciation: /ˈtɜːɡər ˈprɛʃər ˈmeɪntənəns/
Also written as: TPM
The preservation of cellular water pressure essential for plant structural integrity and physiological function under stress conditions.
Full Definition
Turgor pressure maintenance refers to a plant's ability to sustain adequate hydrostatic pressure within its cells even when experiencing water-limiting conditions such as drought or salinity stress. This process is fundamental to plant survival as turgor pressure drives cell expansion, maintains structural rigidity, enables stomatal function, and supports various transport processes. Plants achieve turgor maintenance through mechanisms including osmotic adjustment, changes in cell wall elasticity, and efficient water uptake and retention strategies. The capacity for turgor pressure maintenance is considered a key indicator of plant stress tolerance and is extensively studied in crop improvement programs aimed at developing drought and salt-tolerant varieties.
Plain English
A plant's ability to keep its cells properly inflated with water pressure so they stay firm and can function normally, even during drought or in salty soil.
In Editorial Context
A critical physiological concept in stress tolerance manuscripts that requires verification of measurement techniques, particularly pressure-volume curve methodology and statistical treatment of turgor-related parameters.
Etymology & History
Concept developed as plant physiologists recognized the importance of cellular water relations in stress responses and developed techniques to measure turgor pressure.
Originally studied primarily in relation to cell growth, later expanded to encompass stress tolerance mechanisms and whole-plant water relations.
Usage
"The reviewers questioned whether the pressure-volume curves adequately demonstrate turgor pressure maintenance, suggesting additional measurements at different stress intensities."
Usage note: Should be distinguished from turgor pressure itself; refers to the dynamic process of maintaining pressure rather than static measurements.
Context: plant water relations, stress physiology, cell biology
Region: international
Also known as
Contrasted with
Don't confuse with
Often confused with turgor pressure measurement rather than the maintenance process, or with osmotic adjustment which is one mechanism contributing to maintenance