Ovine ill-thrift in Nova Scotia. 7. Trichoderma hamatum isolated from pasture soil

Trichoderma hamatum accounts for about 1.5% of the fungal propagules isolated from pasture soil at Nappan, Nova Scotia. Greater numbers of propagules of this fungus were isolated in June and September than in July, August and October, with the apparent optimum growth temperature in the field being about 18 degrees C. Unlike the fungal flora collected, propagules of T. hamatum were not randomly distributed throughout the experimental plot. Fifty three percent of isolates of T. hamatum (or 1% of the fungal propagules isolated) in laboratory culture produced toxic, water-soluble metabolites. Two of these metabolites are isonitrile acids.