On the High Plains of Texas, grade reductions for bark contamination of stripper harvested lint prevails in years with high rainfall in September and October. Rainfall in the fall usually results in regrowth and increased stem tissue succulence.

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