The Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on the Canopy and Root Growth of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. Potted Plants

Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) is increasingly recognized as a climate-resilient crop in arid and semi-arid regions, yet its performance is often constrained by poor soil fertility and limited external inputs. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to enhance phosphorus uptake, water relations, and stress tolerance in many species, but their contribution to cactus pear growth remains largely unexplored. One-year-old cladodes were grown in pots filled with sandy loam soil, either inoculated with a mixed AMF consortium or kept as non-inoculated controls. Plant growth was assessed after 6 and 12 months by measuring cladode number and surface area, shoot and root dry weight, and biomass allocation indices. Inoculated plants produced more cladodes, developed a larger canopy surface area, and accumulated greater root and shoot biomass than controls. These gains reflected an overall acceleration of growth, while biomass partitioning (root-to-shoot balance) remained stable. AMF inoculation substantially enhanced the vegetative growth of O. ficus-indica, pointing to its promise as a sustainable practice for improving cactus pear cultivation in nutrient-poor and water-limited soils.