Aims Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widely thought to support plant water uptake during drought, but whether their hyphae remain hydraulically functional once soil hydraulic conductivity collapses under severe drying, and how this depends on soil texture, remains unresolved. We tested whether AMF can maintain hydraulic functionality and transport water to plants under severe soil drying. Methods A simple conceptual fra...

Aims Motivated by recent studies highlighting the active role of plants in influencing the hydraulic properties of the rhizosphere through mucilage exudation, this study explored the effect of plant rhizosphere regulation on the emergent hydraulic properties of the rhizosphere under varying soil texture and moisture levels. Methods Maize ( Zea mays ) plants were cultivated in sand and loam soils exposed to varying moisture lev...