Sclerotial ontogeny, maturation, and aging in Sclerotium cepivorum are described using light and scanning electron microscopy. On potato dextrose agar, the mycelium spread, branching irregularly. Six days after inoculation sclerotial initials appeared, formed by hyphae branching and looping. From 6 to 8 days, the number and size of initials increased, and mucilagenous material appeared. By day 9, hyphal bundles formed in the mycelium. Between 9 and 11 days, spherical forms developed and the sclerotia grew. By day 12, an acellular matrix appeared, and to day 18 this matrix progressively obscured the surface hyphae and became black. A layer of ovoid rind cells developed at the surface. To examine the reduced survival of laboratory-produced compared with field-collected sclerotia, sclerotia from a variety of sources and conditions were compared. In general, the rind of sclerotia aged in dry conditions had a broken, irregular appearance versus fresh sclerotia or sclerotia aged under moist, axenic conditions. Sclerotia aged dry developed 1 to 4 layers of rind cells, while sclerotia kept moist developed only 1 or 2 layers. The structural and survival differences between laboratory-produced and natural sclerotia are attributable to differences in the moisture conditions under which they matured and aged. Key words: Sclerotium cepivorum, white rot, morphogenesis, sclerotia.