| Abstract | This study assessed the diversity and colonization patterns of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) associated with selected invasive plant species, i.e., Parthenium, Cannabis, Mimosa, Lantana, and Asclepias spp. Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of five invasive plants in the Baru Sahib area, Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh, India. The samples were analyzed using various methods, including wet-sieving, decanting, and microscopy. Fifty-six morphologically distinct AMF species belonging to 15 genera were identified. Glomus species were the most abundant, followed by Acaulospora and Rhizophagus. Parthenium hysterophorus exhibited the highest root colonization percentage (94.8%), while Asclepias curassavica had the lowest (61.6%). Lantana camara had the highest number of AMF spores in the soil samples, while Cannabis sativa had the lowest spore number. These findings provide valuable insights into the diversity and colonization patterns of AMF associated with invasive plant species, which can contribute to our understanding of the ecological interactions between invasive plants and soil microbial communities. |