Leaf Curl

Taphrina deformans

36 host plants · Fungal

Last updated

Peach or nectarine leaves curl and pucker in spring, caused by Taphrina deformans during cool, wet budbreak. A single dormant fungicide application in late fall or late winter before bud swell is highly effective. Choose tolerant cultivars like Krummel or Rosy Dawn; avoid susceptible King types.

Good sanitation is your most effective tool against leaf curl. Remove and dispose of infected plant material, clean up fallen debris, and sterilize your pruning tools between plants. Reduce leaf wetness by watering at soil level and spacing plants for adequate air movement. These practices reduce the pathogen load in your garden over successive seasons.

Quick Reference

Agent Type
fungal
Causal Agent
Taphrina deformans
Host Plants
36
Now: Leaf Emergence - Symptom DevelopmentModerate Risk

Infected buds produce distorted, red, curled leaves within 2 weeks of emergence. Symptoms are distinctive. Fungus becomes inactive at warmer spring temperatures above 16°C (61°F).

Next: Second Flush Leaves - Low Risk

Management

Cultural Controls

  • Plant disease-tolerant or resistant varieties.
  • Krummel', 'Muir', and 'Redhaven' are reported to be tolerant.
  • Rosy Dawn' is somewhat resistant.
  • Frost' is disease-resistant. However, it has no juvenile resistance and must be protected during the first 2 to 3 years.
  • Remove infected leaves when they first appear prior to sporulation of the fungus.
  • Destroy infected material.
Regional Notes

Peach cultivar 'Frost' is disease-resistant and recommended for planting in western Washington where spring leaf curl infection pressure is moderate to high.

Host Plants (36)

Prunus americana Wild Plum American (Red) Plum August Plum, Goose Plum Prunus armeniaca Apricot Prunus avium Sweet Cherry Prunus besseyi Sand Cherry, Western Sand Cherry Prunus blireiana Blireiana Plum Prunus caroliniana Carolina Cherrylaurel American Cherrylaurel Prunus cascade Prunus cascade Prunus cerasifera Cherry, Plum Prunus cistena Purpleleaf Sandcherry Redleaf Sandcherry Cistena Sandcherry Cistena Plum Prunus dream Prunus dream Prunus emarginata Bitter Cherry, Wild Cherry, Quinine Cherry Prunus first Prunus first Prunus fruticosa Steppe Cherry, European Dwarf Ground Cherry, Mongolian Cherry Prunus glandulosa Dwarf Flowering Almond Prunus ilicifolia Hollyleaf Cherry, Holly-leaved Cherry Prunus laurocerasus Cherry, Laurel Prunus lusitanica Portugal Laurel Prunus maackii Amur Chokecherry Amur Cherry, Manchurian Cherry Prunus mume Japanese Flowering Apricot Prunus newport Newport Flowering Plum Prunus okame Okame Flowering Cherry Prunus padus European Birdcherry Common Birdcherry Prunus prostrata Rock Cherry, Mountain Cherry Prunus sargentii Sargent Cherry, Sargent's Cherry Prunus serotina Black Cherry, Rum Cherry Prunus serrula Birchbark Cherry, Paperbark Cherry, Tibetan Cherry Prunus serrulata Japanese Flowering Cherry Prunus snow Prunus snow Prunus subcordata Klamath Plum, Sierra Plum, Pacific Plum Prunus subhirtella Higan Cherry Prunus subhirtella var. autumnalis Autumn Flowering Higan Cherry Prunus tai Prunus tai Prunus virginiana Prunus virginiana Prunus virginiana var. demissa Western Chokecherry Prunus virginiana var. virginiana Common Chokecherry, Eastern Chokecherry Prunus yedoensis Yoshino Cherry, Somei-yoshino Cherry, Tokyo Cherry

Sources & References

Primary: PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook

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