Firmness or tension such as found in walled cells that are in a hypoosmotic environment where water enters the cell by osmosis. Ideal state for most plant cells. Turgid cells provide mechanical support for plants. Requires cells to be hyperosmotic to their environment. In an isotonic environment, there is no net movement of water into or out of the cell.
Plant cells become flaccid or limp.
Loss of structural support from turgor pressure causes plants to wilt. Is passive transport because solute is transported down its concentration gradient. Helps the diffusion of many polar molecules and ions that are impeded by the membrane's phospholipid bilayer. There is probably a specific binding site analogous to an enzyme's active site.