Peach Leaf Curl
Taphrina deformans
Basic Details
Description
Taxonomy
Features
Translations
Basic Details
NamePeach Leaf Curl
DescriptionPeach leaf curl causes leaves to become thickened, red, and grotesquely twisted. Identify these puckered symptoms early to prevent tree weakening and fruit loss.
TypeFungus
FamilyTaphrinaceae
GenusTaphrina
Taxonomy & Features
PhylumAscomycota
SubphylumTaphrinomycotina
ClassTaphrinomycetes
OrderTaphrinales
Features
- Caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans. It affects peaches, nectarines, and occasionally almonds throughout the world's temperate growing regions
- Visible symptoms appear shortly after leaves emerge in spring. Leaves become dramatically thickened, puckered, and curled downward
- Affected areas of the leaf often turn bright red, pink, or purple, later fading to a pale yellow or greyish-white velvety coating of spores
- Infected leaves quickly become brittle, turn brown, and fall off the tree. This sudden defoliation forces the tree to use stored energy to grow a new set of leaves
- Though primarily a leaf disease, it can infect young shoots, causing them to be short, thick, and stunted. Infected blossoms may fail to set fruit
- The fungus overwinters as spores on the bark and around the buds. It does not survive inside the leaf tissue but infects new growth as it unfurls
- Infection requires cool (10-21°C) and wet weather during bud break. If the spring is dry and warm, the disease is significantly less severe
- Repeated annual infections severely weaken the tree, reducing its lifespan and making it more susceptible to winter injury and other pests
- Once the leaves are showing symptoms, it is too late to spray for the current season. Instead, maintain tree vigor with adequate water and nitrogen fertilizer
- Control by applying a single dormant spray of lime-sulfur or copper-based fungicide in late autumn or early spring before the buds begin to swell
Names in Different Languages
Latin / ScientificTaphrina deformans
English (Alternate)Leaf curl
Hindiआड़ू की पत्ती का मरोड़ (Aadoo ki patti ka marod)
Tamilபீச் இலை சுருள் (Peach ilai surul)
Teluguపీచ్ ఆకు ముడత (Peach aku mudata)
Malayalamപീച്ച് ഇല ചുരുളൽ (Pīcc ila curuḷal)
Kannadaಪೀಚ್ ಎಲೆ ಮುದುರು ರೋಗ (Pīc ele muduru rōga)
Sanskritपिच्छ-पत्र-कुञ्चन (Piccha-patra-kuñcana)
Bengaliপিচ লিফ কার্ল (Peach leaf curl)
Frenchcloque du pêcher
Russianкурчавость листьев персика (kurchavost' list'ev persika)
Spanishlepra del melocotonero
GermanKräuselkrankheit
