Background:

Knowledge of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities associated with medicinal plants in the temperate forests of Mexico is poorly researched.

Objectives:

To determine the mycorrhizal colonization and evaluate the AMF communities associated with the rhizosphere of medicinal plants growth in a pine-oak forest in Taxco, Guerrero, Mexico.

Methods:

Fourteen medicinal plants were selected through transects and roots were collected from five individuals of each plant species to evaluate mycorrhizal colonization and, in only ten species, also rhizosphere soil to determine the structure of the AMF community.

Results and conclusions:

Fourteen medicinal plants species were identified and all the specimens presented arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization (15.3-73.3 %). The structure of the AMF community determined in the ten medicinal plants did not vary in spore abundance, species richness or diversity indices; however, a significant relationship was found between the composition of AMF species with the identity of the medicinal plant and soil properties. This study contributes to the knowledge of the mycorrhizal colonization and the AMF communities associated at medicinal plants. In total, a richness of 30 AMF species is reported; which represents 9.5 % and 19.9 % of the specific richness of AMF known worldwide and nationally respectively.

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