Question

Why is the vacuole so big in a plant cell?

Answer 1

The central vacuole in a plant cell is the main storage location for water. In addition, the central vacuole is an important source of structural integrity of plants; if a plant is low on water, then the vacuole will have less pressure inside, leading to less rigidity across the cells.

Real-world correlate: Notice how when plants are low on water, they droop downwards. That's because the plants are low on water, so they are depleting their central vacuoles of water, leading to less hydrostatic pressure to hold the whole structure upright.