Plasmolysis is the process in which cells lose water in a hypertonic solution.

Through observation of plasmolysis and deplasmolysis, it is possible to determine the tonicity of the cell's environment as well as the rate solute molecules cross the cellular membrane.

A continued decrease in pressure eventually leads to cytorrhysis – the complete collapse of the cell wall.

Plasmolysis is mainly known as shrinking of cell membrane in hypertonic solution and great pressure.

[2] During concave plasmolysis, the plasma membrane and the enclosed protoplast partially shrinks from the cell wall due to half-spherical, inwarding curving pockets forming between the plasma membrane and the cell wall.

During convex plasmolysis, the plasma membrane and the enclosed protoplast shrinks completely from the cell wall, with the plasma membrane's ends in a symmetrically, spherically curved pattern.