Abstract: 【Objective】Determine the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)on the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of woody plants, and the applicability of light response models. 【Method】In this study, Zelkova serrata Thunb. was used as experimental material. Glomus mosseaefrom Guizhou, Bijie and Glomus mosseae from Yunnan, Chu-xiong were inoculated on self-seeding sterile seedlings of Z. serrata, recorded as GM1 and GM2 respectively, with no inoculation as control, it was recorded as CK. After successful induction of infection, light-response curves of Z. serrata were measured. Five common light-response curve models were analyzed and compared to explore the effects of AMF on photosynthetic characteristics of Z. serrata. Five models were used to simulate the light-response curve, and the applicability of the models was evaluated.【Result】The results show that AMF increased the growth of Z. serrata, as indicated by the increase in seedling height, ground diameter, and leaf number; however, the effect on total chlorophyll content was not obvious or even reduced. Mycorrhizal inoculation improved the net photosynthetic rate light of Z. serrata(P_n), stomatal conductance(G_s), and intercellular CO₂ concentration(C_i). The effect of inoculation with GM1 was better than that with GM2. The transpiration(T_r)rate of GM1 inoculation on Z. serrata was increased, but the transpiration efficiency of GM2 inoculation of Z. serrata was even lower than CK. Through the fitting of five models, the simulation results were found to be good, and the coefficient of determination(R²)was 0.9, only the exponential model in fitting with GM1 Z. serrata light-response curve, R² value is 0.977, the coefficient of determination of the other models are over 0.99. From the mean of coefficient of determination, the effect of Ye Zi-Piao model was found to be the best, followed by the non-linear double line model. The exponential model was found to be the least beneficial. Correlation analysis showed that chlorophyll content was negatively correlated with infection rate, while seedling height was not significantly correlated with infection rate. Ground diameter, C_i, G_s and P_n were positively correlated with infection rate.【Conclution】Inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi can promote the growth of host plant. In addition, the photosynthetic characteristics of the plant were enhanced. Five types of light-response models were used. The best simulation result was obtained for Ye Zi-Piao model. Therefore, When describing photoresponse of Z. serrata should mainly rely on Ye Zi-Piao model although other models can be used as reference.