The vacuole is a membrane-bound organelle found in plant cells that plays a crucial role in growth and development. It is the largest compartment of the cell, occupying up to 90% of the volume of plant cells. The vacuole has several functions, including:

• Storage and transport: The vacuole stores and transports substances such as ions, metabolites, pigments, and toxic substances. It also stores salts, minerals, nutrients, and proteins.

• Maintaining water balance: The vacuole helps maintain water balance in the cell. Under optimal conditions, the vacuoles are filled with water to the point that they exert a significant pressure against the cell wall.

• Intracellular environmental stability: The vacuole helps maintain the pH and ionic strength of the cytoplasm.

• Response to injury: The vacuole plays a role in the response to injury.

• Structural support: The vacuole provides structural support to the cell.

• Waste disposal: The vacuole handles waste products and can get rid of harmful toxins or clear the extracellular space of those harmful toxins by bringing them into the cell for conversion into more safe compounds.

The size of the vacuole is highly dynamic and depends on the cell type and growth conditions. In mature plant cells, vacuoles tend to be very large and can take up most of the interior space of the cell (80 percent or more) .