Peach leaf curl
Peach leaf curl is a fungal disease of peaches, almonds, nectarines and occasionally apricots, which causes severely distorted leaves, making them fall prematurely.
Quick facts
Common name Peach leaf curl
Scientific name Taphrina deformans
Plants affected Peaches, almonds, nectarines and apricots
Main symptoms Distorted leaves and fungal growth
Caused by Fungus
Timing Spring
Scientific name Taphrina deformans
Plants affected Peaches, almonds, nectarines and apricots
Main symptoms Distorted leaves and fungal growth
Caused by Fungus
Timing Spring
What is peach leaf curl?
Peach leaf curl is a disease caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans. Infections lead to severe distortion of the leaves soon after leaf burst in spring.
Taphrina deformans infects peaches and nectarines, also almonds and occasionally apricots and ornamental Prunus.
Symptoms
You may see the following symptoms:
- Crumpled, thickened and distorted leaves, often red in colour
- A white bloom of fungal spores on affected leaves
- Diseased leaves fall rapidly, leading to defoliation and loss of vigour
- Shoots and fruits are occasionally attacked
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