ATERIALS AND METHODS Preharvest assessment: field samples. Kentucky bluegrass fields were selected at random from a listing of all fields certified by the OSU Seed Certification Office. During 1991, 148 fields were sampled by arbitrarily collecting a panicle every few steps while walking along each of four transects (100 panicles/transect) in a dia- mond-shaped pattern in each field. All fields were sampled within one week of cutting. Samples were placed in paper bags and air-dried. For each sample, the number of panicles with ergot, and the number of ergot per panicle were recorded. All sam- ples were examined within 2 to 3 weeks of
collection.