Peach Leaf Curl
Taphrina deformans
Overview
A distinctive fungal disease of peaches and nectarines that causes dramatic puckering, curling, and thickening of leaves with red to purple discoloration in spring.
Symptoms
Leaves become thickened, puckered, and curled with red, pink, or purple discoloration. Affected leaves eventually turn yellow-brown and drop. Fruit may develop raised, warty areas. Repeated infections weaken trees.
Environmental Conditions
Cool
Prevention
Apply a single dormant spray of copper fungicide or lime-sulfur in late fall after leaf drop or in late winter before bud swell. This is the most critical timing. Plant resistant varieties.
Management
Once symptoms appear, fungicide is ineffective for the current season. Remove and destroy infected leaves. Ensure adequate water and nutrition to help trees recover. Apply dormant spray the following fall/winter.