What is Vacuoles

A very conspicuous feature in most plant cells is the presence of one or more large vesicles called vacuoles which are separated from the rest of the cytoplasm by a thin membrane called the tonoplast. Vacuoles are small in young cells, but grow larger as the cells grow older, and can occupy as much as 50% of the cell volume.

Vacuoles are filled with cell sap, and are used for storing and transport of nutrients, metabolites and waste products. In certain plants, vacuoles serve a special function of storing compounds like rubber, alkaloids, organic acids and other metabolites.