Plant Pathology Infobytes

April 18, 1998
Leaf Curl Prominent on Peach Trees

If the leaves on your peach trees look unusual this spring, the cause could be leaf curl, a fungus disease which frequently shows up following periods of rainy weather. This disease can also occur on plum, cherry, and nectarine trees.

Following emergence, infected leaves are curled and puckered, and the leaf tissue is thicker than normal and firm. The leaf margins curl inward so that the undersurface is a series of concave chambers. Later in the season, malformed leaves change to a red or purple color, and by mid-summer leaves turn brown and fall from trees. While peach leaf curl will not kill trees, the loss of foliage weakens trees, and should be controlled to help maintain tree health.

How do you go about controlling peach leaf curl? Since the spores of the fungus overwinter on the twigs and buds of trees, you can effectively control this disease by a single dormant application of a recommended fungicide. The fungicide should be applied in the fall or winter season, and spraying trees for the disease at this point in the season will not reduce the incidence of peach leaf curl.

Any of the following fungicides applied according to label directions will provide excellent control of peach leaf curl.

  • liquid lime sulfur
  • ferbam
  • chlorothalonil

These fungicides are sold under a variety of trade names and should be available at your local garden supply dealer. If you have questions about control of diseases or other pests in the home orchard, do not hesitate to contact the County Extension Office.


Written by the late Dr. Frank Killebrew

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