Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and herbivore insects are essential elements of ecosystems. They can influence each other on their common host plant. AMF support the plant growth by protecting against herbivore insect stresses. Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) miller is a multipurpose species which is under serious threat by cochineal insect (Dactylopius coccus (C.). The AMF and cochineal insect interaction on O. ficus-indica plants were not studied. This paper analyzed AMF spore density and root colonization of O. ficus-indica population in cochineal-infested and uninfested cultivated areas. Soil depth, season, and altitude were main environmental factors for the result observations. Soil and root samples were collected from the rhizosphere of O. ficus-indica plants. AMF spore density and root colonization were higher in uninfested plants than cochineal infested. AMF genus significantly varied along altitude and soil depth. Root colonization was higher during the rainy season than dry season, while spore density was lower in the rainy season. In the cochineal infested populations, spore density did not significantly varied with seasons. Spore density and root colonization were significantly higher on the upper soil depth than lower depth. Rhizosphere soil properties varied with altitude and soil depth. Soil available phosphorus (AVP) was significantly higher in the cochineal-infested populations. AVP showed significant negative correlation with mycorrhizal colonization. AMF–cochineal interaction in O. ficus-indica populations needs to be experimentally tested to understand the facilitative role of AMF to increase the performance of O. ficus-indica plants and to defend against the infestation of cochineal.

丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）和食草昆虫是生态系统的重要组成部分。它们可以在共同的寄主植物上相互影响。AMF 通过防止食草动物昆虫胁迫来支持植物生长。仙人掌 (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) miller) 是一种多用途物种，受到胭脂虫 ( Dactylopius coccus (C.)) 的严重威胁。AMF 与胭脂虫昆虫对O. ficus-indica植物的相互作用尚未进行研究。本文分析了 AMF胭脂虫侵染区和未侵染区的 O. ficus-indica 种群孢子密度和根部定植情况。土壤深度、季节和海拔是结果观测的主要环境因素。土壤和根系样品采集自 O. ficus 根际。 -籼稻植物。未受侵染植物中 AMF 孢子密度和根部定植率均高于胭脂虫侵染植物。AMF 属随海拔和土壤深度变化显着。雨季根部定植率高于旱季，而雨季孢子密度较低在胭脂虫侵染群体中，孢子密度随季节变化不显着，上层土层的孢子密度和根定植量显着高于下层土层。根际土壤性质随海拔高度和土壤深度而变化。受胭脂虫感染的群体中，土壤有效磷（AVP）显着较高。AVP与菌根定植呈显着负相关。需要对O. ficus-indica种群中的 AMF-胭脂虫相互作用进行实验测试，以了解 AMF 在提高O. ficus-indica植物性能和防御胭脂虫侵染方面的促进作用。