On the High Plains of Texas, problems with bark contaminated lint prevail in years with high rainfall in September and October. This rainfall results in regrowth and increased stem tissue succulence.

Our hypothesis is that if the stem is succulent when the first freeze occurs, bark tissue is stretched and ruptures due to ice increasing in volume. After drying, the bark is easily removed by mechanical damage from the stripper harvester.

Field studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of water supply, cultivar and nitrogen fertility on tissue succulence prior to freeze. The effects of one desiccant and two defoliants were also evaluated as to their ability to reduce stem water content prior to the freeze. Irrigated plants (especially those receiving water in September) were more succulent than dryland plants. Increased nitrogen supply also increased stem succulence prior to the freeze. The more indeterminate cultivar was more succulent than a moderately determinate cultivar. The desiccant (arsenic acid) increased both the rate and extent of tissue drying in all cases while both defoliants were comparable to the control. We believe that tissue succulence can be managed prior to a freeze to prevent the development of conditions favoring bark sloughing.