Embolism resistance as a key mechanism to understand adaptive plant strategies

► The hydraulic pathway of plants is vulnerable to develop air bubbles. ► Air bubble formation in plants is caused by drought or freeze-thaw events. ► Various mechanical xylem properties are correlated with drought-induced embolisms. ► Angiosperms have a greater ability to repair stem embolisms than gymnosperms. ► Secondarily woody shrubs are more embolism resistant than herbaceous relatives.