Correct option is D
When plant cells are placed in a hypertonic solution, water moves out of the cells by osmosis, causing the protoplast (the living part of the cell including the plasma membrane and cytoplasm) to shrink and pull away from the cell wall. This process is called plasmolysis.
Now, analyzing each statement:
A. Microtubules are lost in plasmolysed cells.
Microtubules are part of the cytoskeleton inside the cell and generally remain intact during plasmolysis. They do not get lost or destroyed simply because the cell is plasmolysed. Hence, this statement is incorrect.
B. Protoplasts are retracted in plasmolysed cells.
The protoplast (plasma membrane and cytoplasm) shrinks and pulls away from the cell wall when water leaves the cell. This means the protoplast retracts. So, this statement is correct.
C. Hechtian strands are lost during plasmolysis.
Hechtian strands are thin strands of cytoplasm that remain connected between the plasma membrane and the cell wall even during plasmolysis. They prevent the plasma membrane from completely detaching from the cell wall. Thus, these strands do not get lost during plasmolysis. This statement is incorrect.
D. Patches of plasma membrane remain affixed to the wall.
Due to Hechtian strands, certain patches of plasma membrane remain attached to the cell wall even though the protoplast has shrunk. So, this statement is correct.
Conclusion:
Only statements B and D are correct. Hence, option (4) B and D is the right answer.
