Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus‐indica) is a medicinal plant that plays important economic and ecological roles in arid and semi-arid regions. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation isolated from O. ficus-indica rhizosphere and/or vermicompost supplementation on growth and biochemical properties of newly developed O. ficus-indica cladodes. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with four treatments: control, AMF inoculation and vermicompost application individually or in combination with AMF. After eight months of cultivation, the results showed that the application of AMF and/or vermicompost improved growth and stimulated mycorrhizal colonization. Treatments with AMF, vermicompost, and AMF + vermicompost treatments increased sugar and protein contents by 30, 55 and 67% and 21, 60 and 84%, respectively. In addition, these treatments improved the superoxide dismutase, catalase and polyphenol oxidase activities and total phenolics and flavonoids content. Consequently, the same treatments enhanced the inhibition of the free radical 2, 2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity by 58, 52 and 33%, respectively compared to control plants, which reflects the highest antioxidant activity. In conclusion, our findings suggest that AMF combined with vermicompost induced the greatest effect on the different parameters tested and could improve the growth and development of cactus plants.

The richness of the soil in beneficial and growth-stimulating microorganisms and their symbiotic interactions with plants is a factor to be discovered. This kind of relationships is still poorly studied in cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.). The endomycorrhizal status of cannabis was assessed in two...

Saffron cultivation is a viable alternative for marginal areas where low soil fertility and water availability severely limit the cultivation of other crops with higher water and input requirments. Under these conditions, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are an essential alternative for maintaining fertility and water conservation, stimulating growth, and providing plant protection against soil-borne diseases. The aim of this work is to highlight the diversity of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities associated with saffron roots in plantations of different ages (two, four and ten years old) in the region of Taliouine (Morocco). The highest number of endomycorrhizal spores was recorded in the rhizosphere of saffron plants harvested at the level of plots that have carried saffron for two years (138.66/100 g soil), while the lowest number was observed in the rhizosphere of plants of plots that are occupied for 10 years by saffron. All collected spores from plots under study represent 17 morphotypes belonging to 5 genera: Glomus (7 species), Acaulospora (7 species), Rhizophagus (one species), Densicitata (one species), and Funneliformis (one species).

Saffron cultivation is a viable alternative for marginal areas where low soil fertility and water availability severely limit the cultivation of other crops with higher water and input requirments. Under these conditions, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are an essential alternative for maintaining fertility and water conservation, stimulating growth, and providing plant protection against soil-borne diseases. The aim of this work is to highlight the diversity of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities associated with saffron roots in plantations of different ages (two, four and ten years old) in the region of Taliouine (Morocco). The highest number of endomycorrhizal spores was recorded in the rhizosphere of saffron plants harvested at the level of plots that have carried saffron for two years (138.66/100 g soil), while the lowest number was observed in the rhizosphere of plants of plots that are occupied for 10 years by saffron. All collected spores from plots under study represent 17 morphotypes belonging to 5 genera: Glomus (7 species), Acaulospora (7 species), Rhizophagus (one species), Densicitata (one species), and Funneliformis (one species).