What does peach leaf curl look like?
Diseased leaves are reddish to purple in color, and thickened, twisted, and generally distorted. Leaves later turn brown and fall from the tree. Diseased shoots show stunted growth with small, yellowish leaves, or leaves arranged in tight whorls (rosettes). Diseased fruit are bumpy, reddish in color, and fall prematurely. How does peach leaf curl develop? The pathogen overwinters in bark and bud scales. Fungal spores infect leaves and shoots during spring while leaves are still in the bud and during bud burst. Mild (50-70 degrees), wet weather during this period favors infection. As the fungus grows in plant tissues, it disrupts normal cell development resulting in distorted, off-color leaves, shoots, and fruit. Additional spores form on the surface of diseased tissues, and these spores go on to start new infections if the weather remains mild and wet. How do I save trees that have peach leaf curl? If significant premature leaf drop occurs, trees will be susceptible to drought stress a
