Mycorrhizal impact on osmotic adjustment in Ocimum basilicum during a lethal drying episode

Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis can improve drought avoidance capabilities of plants, but the actual dehydration tolerance of mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal foliage has not been compared. In this study, leaves of mycorrhizal Ocimum basilicum plants developed lower, full-turgor π than leaves of nonmycorrhizal plants during a lethal drought, indicative of greater active osmotic adjustment. This did not translate into increased drought resistance, as lethal leaf , lethal soil m and length of the lethal drought episode were not affected by the symbiosis.