Beetroot Pigment Leakage Measures Membrane Damage

Steps:

• Observe red pigment release from beet cells as indicator of membrane/tonoplast permeability.
• Apply treatments (e.g., heat, solvents) to disrupt membranes.
• Measure absorbance of leaked pigment in solution to quantify damage.
• Compare results to control to assess treatment effects.

Why B is correct:

• B identifies pigment leakage as direct evidence of increased permeability, per cell membrane fluidity principles where damage allows diffusion.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Ignores tonoplast role; pigment release requires both membrane breaches.
• C: Not enough information on specific treatments to confirm no effect.
• D: Misapplies diffusion; intact membranes prevent pigment escape by selective permeability.

Final answer: B