Saffron cultivation is an important alternative for marginalized areas. Due to low soil fertility and low water availability, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are an essential alternative for maintaining fertility and water economy, stimulating growth and protecting plants against soil diseases. Studies on the diversity of endomycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere of Crocus sativus in Taliouine (Tinfat), located in Morocco, revealed the impact of age saffron plantations. A greater endomycorrhizal fungi density was recorded in the rhizosphere of saffron plants from plots operated for 2 years (138.66/100 g of soil) over that occupied for 10 years. Seventeen morphotypes of collected spores belong to 5 genera: Glomus (seven species), Acaulospora (seven species), Rhizophagus, Densicitata, and Funneliformis (one species). The weak endomycorrhizal species richness can be explained by the accumulation of C. sativus residues over time and its allelopathic effect. The beneficial effect of composite endomycorrhizal inocula, originating from Moroccan saffron plantations, was obvious in the growth of saffron plants, mother bulb number, the leaves length, root, and vegetative masses. These inocula mycorrhized over time saffron plants’ roots and can sporulate at the level of the rhizosphere of these plants. The use of composite inocula, as biofertilizers, can be one of the solutions for sustainable agriculture.

Despite the importance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) within forest and agroecosystems, few data are available about how AMF communities are structured in the root zone of the argan tree. Some studies have characterized endomycorrhizal fungi population occurring in rhizosphere soils of argan trees grown in southwest of Morocco, numerous sites in this area harbored unexplored communities. The endomycorrhizae diversity of rhizosphere soils collected from 15 argan forest stands located in Lakhssas, Smimou, Ait Baha, Tamanar, Essaouira, Taroudant (Elkodya), Irherm, Guelmim, Imsouane, Anzi, Tiznit, Taghazoute, Ait Melloul, Bouizakarne, and Oulad Teima have revealed the presence of different AMF communities sharing some species but dissimilar AMF community compositions are noted according to sampling time and site. Additionally, the diverse AMF structures detected such as vesicles, arbuscules and hyphae reflect implicitly the germination of AMF propagules in the rhizospheric area of the Argan tree. The pre-evaluation of AMF in the soil through spores’ density can indicate AMF community dynamics, signaling either the adaptability of mycorrhizal symbionts to the local conditions or its decline. In total, 39 morphotypes of endomycorrhizal fungal spores were identified and described, representing seven genera: Glomus (15 species), Scutellospora (3 species), Entrophospora (4 species), Pacispora (2 species), Gigaspora (4 species), Acaulospora (10 species), and Ambispora (1 species). The genus Glomus has a wide occurrence and had the largest number of species. This chapter gives a great overview of the mycorrhizal status of argan trees in their natural habitats of the main Moroccan argan forests.

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).