Greater productivity under drought among <i>Zea mays</i> genotypes is linked to plant hydraulic strategies

A successful strategy for maize under cyclic water limitation appears to be to maintain growth with greater stomatal conductance and hydraulic conductivity, while protecting photosynthetic apparatuses. Finding a strong linkage between grain productivity and pressurized root flow, with its potential connection to capacitance tissues, emphasizes the need to explore hydraulic mechanisms that have received little attention to date but could provide a crucial mechanism for maintaining productivity when water availability is limited.