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The relationship between fungal activity in soil and staining with fluorescein diacetate (FDA) was investigated using Penicillium citrinum and Rhizoctonia solani inoculated into autoclaved and non-sterilized soil, with or without nutrient amendment. Correlations of fungal activity with FDA staining allowed a quantitative relationship between FDA-staining and fungal CO₂-evolution to be calculated. Results suggest that where nutrient fluxes occur in the soil, correlation between FDA-staining and CO₂ evolution may be useful in assessing fungal contributions to carbon transformations.