The hypothesis that inoculation of transplants with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi before planting into saline soils would alleviate salt effects on growth and productivity was tested on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and onion (Allium cepa L.). A secondary hypothesis was that the fungi isolated from a saline soil would be more effective than those from a nonsaline soil. VAM inocula from a high-and a low-salt soil were trap-cultured, their propagules quantified, adjusted, and added to a pasteurized growth medium in which seeds germinated and seedlings grew for a few weeks. These seedlings, once colonized by VAM fungi, were transplanted into saline soil. Seedlings were exposed to high concentrations of NaCl at the time of transplant; in this respect, our technique aimed to simulate conditions of high salinity prevalent in soils affected by NaCl. Preinoculated lettuce and onion transplants grown for 10 weeks had increased shoot biomass compared with nonVAM plants at all salinity (NaCl) levels tested. Leaves of VAM lettuce at the highest salt level were significantly greener than those of the nonVAM lettuce. NonVAM onions were stunted due to available P deficiency in the soil, but inoculation with VAM fungi alleviated P deficiency and salinity effects except at the highest salinity level; nevertheless, VAM onions were significantly larger at all salinity levels. Increasing the level of available P by weekly applications to nonVAM plants partially alleviated the salinity effects on onion growth. VAM fungi from the saline soil site were not more effective in ameliorating the reduction on plant growth caused by salt than those from the nonsaline site. Colonization of roots and length of soil hyphae produced by the test fungi decreased with increasing salt. Results indicate that preinoculation of transplants with VAM fungi can effectively alleviate deleterious effects of saline soils on crop productivity. / Graduation date: 2000