Temperature has a strong influence on the activity of living organisms. This study, involving two indoor experiments, evaluated the effects of root zone temperature (10, 15 and 23C) on the formation and development of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM). In the first trial, greenhouse-grown sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] was either colonized by Glomus intraradices Schenck Smith or left non-mycorrhizal. Root length, root and shoot weight and root colonization were measured after 5, 10 and 15weeks of plant growth. Although suboptimal root zone temperatures reduced growth in both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants, mycorrhizal plants were larger than non-mycorrhizal plants after 15weeks at 15 and 23C. At suboptimal root zone temperatures, mycorrhizal inoculation sometimes slightly reduced root development. AM colonization was more affected than root growth at suboptimal root zone temperatures. Colonization was markedly reduced at 15C compared with 23C, and almost completely inhibited at 10C. The second experiment was conducted in vitro using transformed carrot (Daucus carota L.) roots supporting G. intraradices. Mycelium length and spore number were measured weekly for 15weeks. Spore metabolic activity (iodonitrotetrazolium reduction), root length and percentage root colonization were measured after 15weeks. G. intraradices sporulation was reduced at temperatures below 23C, while spore metabolic activity was significantly reduced only at 10C. Root length and in particular percentage colonization were decreased at suboptimal temperatures. A negative interaction between AM hyphal growth and root growth resulting in reduced probability of contact at suboptimal root zone temperatures is proposed to explain the greater reduction observed in root colonization than in root and hyphal growth.