THE importance of studying root exudates in understanding the behaviour of the rhizosphere microflora is now well recognized. Many techniques have been evolved for collecting root exudates under non-sterile conditions without regard to the attendant injury to root system and with the consequent sloughing off of the root cortex1. This communication records an attempt to overcome these defects in technique by collecting the exudates under sterile conditions, during the first week of the growth of the plants.