Armillaria root rot. caused most likely by Armillaria obscura (Pers) Herink, killed 6-to 21-year-old white spruce, black spruce, jack pine and red pine saplings in each of 49 plantations examined in northern Ontario. Annual mortality in the four species over the last 2 to 6 years averaged 1.4%, 1.5%, 0.5% and 0.2%, respectively. In all but one of 25 white spruce and red pine plantations (43 to 58 years old) in eastern and southern Ontario. Armillaria root rot was associated with mortality. Accumulated mortality in white spruce and red pine (initially recorded in 1978) averaged 7.6% and 11.7%, respectively, as of 1986. Current annual mortality for all plantations ranged from 0% to 16%. Key words: root rot. Armillaria obscura, white spruce, black spruce, jack pine, red pine.