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The endophytic fungus Acremonium coenophialum Morgan-Jones and Grams [also referred to as Epichloe tryphina (Fries)Tul.] has been associated with a serious toxicosis problem in cattle grazing tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Up to now the fungus was detected in the grass by examining pith from the flowering stem. This limited observations to mature plants in the spring of the year. A faster technique involving examination of the lear sheath, which can be done any time of the year, is described here. The fungus can also be detected in the seed where it grows in association with the aleurone layer. Nitric acid treatment of the seed followed by staining with aniline blue permits rapid processing and examination under a microscope. Reliability of this technique was tested on seven batches of seed mixed in different proportions by weight from two seed lots, one with 100% infected seed and the other 1 …