Vegetative inoculum of Pisolithus tinctorius and Laccariafraterna were inoculated to Pinuspatula seedlings
grown in both steam sterilized and unsterilized shola soil. After 4 months of seedling growth, 10 seedlings from
each treatment were harvested and various growth parameters were studied. Inoculation of these two fungi resulted
in  the  production  of  ectomycorrhizas  and  increase  in  growth  of  P.  patula  seedlings when  compared  to
uninoculated  seedlings.  Laccariafraterna  inoculated  seedlings  showed  more  number  of mycorrhizas  than  P.
tinctorius inoculated seedlings at the end of one year. Both these fungi poorly colonized the root system in both
soil treatments. There was no significant difference between these two fungi in improving the seedling growth
in the nursery.