Prunus persica
DISEASES OF PEACH
1 Leaf curl : Taphrina deformans
LEAF CURL
Taphrina deformans
1. Leaf curl
C.O. : Taphrina deformans
Class : Taphrinomycetes
Order : Taphrinales
Family : Taphrinaceae
Symptoms:
» Diseased leaves can usually be identified soon after
they emerge from the bud, due to their red color and
twisted shape.
» As the leaves develop, they become increasingly
distorted and ultimately thick and rubbery compared
to normal leaves. The colors of the leaves change from
the normal green to red and purple.
» Fruit may fail to develop from diseased blossoms, or
may be affected, showing a reddish color.
Favourable condition:
v’ Temperature : Below 19°C.
v Cool and wet winter
Disease cycle:
* PSI: Infected leaves, bark, buds,twigs. Ascospores
« SSI: Rain and wind Conidia
* This pathogen is called monocyclic, meaning these
fungal spores infect peach leaves only once a year in
the spring.
Disease Cycle
Intercellular Ascospores
mycelium and inascus
subcuticular
Conidium ascogenous cells
penetrates
host tissue 5 SN —
3 Healthy and
infected
peach leaf
Developing asa
breaking through
cuticle
New infection
7° Conidium Layer of asa
germinating onirfected
leaf and fruit
f Owerwintering & Conidium
@ Healthy
i fruit
A Conidia
overwintering
\ on buds or
twigs Plum pocket
O
Buddin Ir Qspore
Management:
» The most effective method is to plant peach trees
possibly covered by a mat during the winter, to keep
winter rain away from the buds before they burst
(incidentally to delay blossoming until spring frosts
are over).
» Copper based mixtures (such as bordeaux mixture)
and lime sulphur are two fungicides commonly used.
» Peach cultivars can be planted which show some
resistance to peach leaf curl, or at least regenerate
rapidly, such as Peach ‘Benedicte’.