We assessed the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation on salt stress tolerance in roots of the drought-tolerant plant Elaeagnus angustifolia.We studied a plant growth index,spore density and hyphal length density of AMF,the Na+ contents and ultrastructure of root cells,as well as rhizosphere soil enzyme activities of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal E.angustifolia seedlings under different salt stress.Under salt stress,growth of E.angustifolia with mycorrhizal inoculation was higher than that of non-inoculated treatments.The spore density and hyphal length density decreased significantly under salt stress in rhizosphere soil of mycorrhizal E.angustifolia seedlings (p < 0.05).The root cells of E.angustifolia seedlings inoculated with R.irregularis at 300 mmol L-1 salt had more organelles,greater integrity,and lower root Na+ contents than those of non-inoculated seedlings.In addition,the results showed notably higher activities of catalase,phosphatase,urease and saccharase in rhizosphere soil of the mycorrhizal seedlings in response to salinity compared to those of the non-mycorrhizal seedlings.Therefore,AMF inoculation could enhance salt stress tolerance in roots of E.angustifolia.