This trial shows that mycorrhizal fungi helps peach seedlings extract zinc from the soil. The fungi were equally or more effective in overcoming soil-fumigation nutrient-deficiency effects in peach nursery seedlings than the standard nursery practice of side-dressing phosphorus and zinc at planting time. Further studies are under way to determine application and placement methods which show the greatest inoculation efficiency in peach and other plant species.

J. H. La Rue, W. D. McClellan and W. L. Peacock are University of California Farm Advisors, Tulare County; the authors acknowledge the assistance of the L. E. Cooke Company Nursery, vislia, California.