To screen the optimal Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus （AMF） for Berberis poiretii Schneid. and B. sibirica Pall. and thereby accelerate commercial propagation of the genus， seedlings of both species were inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae （Fm）， Claroideoglomus etunicatum （Ce）， a 1∶1 mixture of both （Mix）， or left non-inoculated （CK）. Mycorrhizal colonization， growth and physiological parameters， and berberine concentration were subsequently quantified. Colonization peaked under Mix in B. poiretii and under Ce in B. sibirica. Root architecture responded similarly： Ce produced the greatest root-tip number and total root length in both species （significantly so in B. sibirica）， whereas Mix maximized mean root diameter and root volume， root surface area did not differ among treatments. Soluble-protein content and superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity were highest after Ce inoculation and the lowest in CK for both taxa. Peroxidase （POD） activity was also the highest under Ce in B. poiretii， but under Fm in B. sibirica. In conclusion， AMF inoculation consistently stimulated growth， antioxidant capacity， and berberine biosynthesis in the two Berberis species， providing a practical pratical referances for their large-scale cultivation.

Berberis poiretii  /  Berberis sibirica  /  Growth index  /  Physiological index  /  Berberine