Some observations on the occurrence of Sporidesmium bakeri Syd. and facial Eczema disease in the field

Summary

The incidence in pastures of the spores of Sporidesmium bakeri, observed to grow saprophytically on dead pasture-plant material, has been studied with a simple spore-counting method.

High spore counts were favoured by large amounts of dead and damaged plant materials and warm, moist conditions.

A relationship has been established between relatively high counts of spores and facial eczema disease in lambs.

A correlation has been shown between spore counts and “beaker test” values.

The incidence of spores was higher in pasture samples from Gisborne and Palmerston North than in samples from Hutt Valley, Lincoln and Gore.