The mycorrhizal status of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) nursery stock in 40 central forest tree nurseries was surveyed at the end of the growing season. Mycorrhizal percentages (% of total numer of root tips) of over 90% were found in first year's bare-root seedlings in almost all nurseries. At the transplant stage (3 years) the percentages were even higher. Containerized seedlings showed more variation; there were fewer than 60% mycorrhizal root tips in samples from half the nurseries, which was not considered satisfactory. No correlation could be shown between size parameters of first year seedlings and their mycorrhizal status. the proportion of bifurcate root tips correlated with proportin of mycorrhizal tips but not enough to justify its use as a sole indicator of mycorrhizal status. Root nutrient concentrations and mycorrhizal percentages of first year bare-root seedlings wee inversely related: the more N, P, K, Mg or Cu in roots, the fewer mycorrhizas.
