Peach Leaf Curl

Abstract

Peach leaf curl, caused by Taphrina deformans, is relatively unimportant as an economic factor in peach production even though it occurs rather continuously throughout the significant areas of peach production in the world. Control, where and when necessary, is effected with a single application of fungicide before bud-break. Such sprays, applied while the host is dormant, are called dormant sprays. The disease is important primarily in the urban, back-yard habitat where the busy commuter has a single peach tree. Either the single dormant spray technique should be used here too, or the one cut prunning method—at the ground line!