Establishment of Quercus rugosa Nee seedlings inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a temperate forest from Mexico

The vegetation of the Magdalena river basin is continuously removed. The ecological restoration strategies include the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, since these fungi may increase the establishment and survivorship of plants in the field. To identify the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi species from Quercus rugosa's rhizosphere and to estimate the fungi root colonization, root and soil were sampled. To evaluate the growth and survivorship of mycorrhizal plants, Q. rugosa seedlings were grown on two conditions (treatments): sterilized native soil (-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) and non-sterilized native soil (+arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi); afterwards, they were introduced to the field. We identified ten arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi species in the rhizosphere, mean values of root colonization were superior to 50%. The highest survivorship values were reported on + arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi treatment; although growth traits values did not show significant differences. Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increased the establishment and survivorship of Q. rugosa's seedlings; these results support the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in ecological restoration programs.