Exhibit 99.1350CERT

         Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act

I, Terry K. Glenn, President of Merrill Lynch Natural Resources Trust (the
"Trust"), Inc., certify that:

      1.    The N-CSR of the Trust (the "Report") fully complies with the
            requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
            Act of 1934; and

      2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
            material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
            of the Trust.

      Dated: March 17, 2003


                                           /s/ Terry K. Glenn
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Terry K. Glenn,
                                           President of
                                           Merrill Lynch Natural Resources Trust



Exhibit 99.1350CERT

         Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act

I, Donald C. Burke, Chief Financial Officer of Merrill Lynch Natural Resources
Trust (the "Trust"), certify that:

      1.    The N-CSR of the Trust (the "Report") fully complies with the
            requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
            Act of 1934; and

      2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
            material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
            of the Trust.

      Dated: March 17, 2003


                                           /s/ Donald C. Burke
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Donald C. Burke,
                                           Chief Financial Officer of
                                           Merrill Lynch Natural Resources Trust