The Effect of Salt Solution Concentration on the Condition of Red Onion Cells

Abstract

This study aims to determine the effect of salt solution (NaCl) concentration on the cellular condition of red onions (Allium ascalonicum L.), specifically regarding the occurrence of plasmolysis in epidermal cells. The research was conducted using several NaCl concentration treatments (0 – 0,8 M). Observations were carried out macroscopically and microscopically, with parameters including changes in bulb length and width, as well as the percentage of cells undergoing plasmolysis. The results indicated that an increase in salt solution concentration tends to increase the number of plasmolyzed cells. At a concentration of 0.4 M, a plasmolysis percentage of 60% was obtained, while at 0.8 M, it reached 100%. However, Kruskal–Wallis statistical tests showed that the variation in solution concentration did not exert a significant effect on the condition of the red onion cells (p > 0.05). This lack of significance is suspected to be influenced by limited sample size, low data variation, and technical factors during microscopic observation. This study demonstrates that salt concentration affects biological osmosis and plasmolysis processes, despite not showing statistically significant differences.