According to the literature, biological processes in the rhizosphere could play a role in the adaptation of plants to droughts under a changing climate. A previous study has identified significantly different productivity level and fruit quality for two tomato varieties under water deficit conditions. We conducted a field study, with and without water deficit, with these two varieties to examine whether microbiological activity and exopolysaccharides concentration could affect soil hydrophysical properties. The rhizosphere soil had indeed distinct bio-chemical and hydrophysical properties between the two cultivars and between the two water-related conditions. The quantity of soil exopolysaccharide and/or nitrogenous substances, and the activity of microorganisms (fungi in particular) explains part of the soil water retention measurements. In addition, these mechanisms are significantly accentuated for the cultivar with the best productive capability under water-limited condition—i.e. with commercial yield, fruit dry matter and water use efficiency which are respectively 35%, 28%, and 31% higher for the productive cultivar.

根据文献，根际中的生物过程可以在植物适应气候变化下的干旱方面发挥作用。之前的一项研究发现，在缺水条件下，两种番茄品种的生产力水平和果实质量存在显着差异。我们对这两个品种进行了有和没有缺水的实地研究，以检查微生物活性和胞外多糖浓度是否会影响土壤水物理特性。根际土壤在两个品种之间和两个与水有关的条件之间确实具有不同的生物化学和水物理特性。土壤胞外多糖和/或含氮物质的数量，以及微生物（特别是真菌）的活动解释了土壤保水测量的部分原因。