Kubikova E, Moore JL, Ownley BH, Mullen MD, Augé RM. 2001. Mycorrhizal impact on osmotic adjustment in Ocimum basilicum during a lethal drying episode. Journal of Plant Physiology 1227-1230. 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 osmotic potential 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 water potential, lethal soil matric potential and length of the lethal drought episode were not affected by the symbiosis.