Translucent scale: Leathery scale
Disorder
Symptoms
Leathery, water soaked outer scales and skins occur in the field prior to harvest. If a period of heavy rainfall follows a period of drought during bulb development, these symptoms might occur.
Causes
Exposure to high relative humidity and high temperatures [32°C (90°F)] during the last several days of field curing onions can cause an increase in the incidence of this disorder. In addition, a delay of 2-4 weeks between field curing and cold storage of onions at 0°C (32°F) may also increase the incidence of this disorder.
Control
Onion bulbs should be cured properly and stored at the appropriate temperature [0°C (32°F)] and relative humidity.