Peach Leaf Curl

Description:

Fungus infection of Peach

Notes:

III. Disease Cycle: The pathogen occurs commonly almost wherever peaches are grown, and overwinters as blastospores in protected crevices in the bark and around the buds. Primary infections are the most damaging and occur during the early spring from bud swell, when the bud scales loosen, until the first young leaves are fully emerged from the bud. Infections on young peach leaves occur at temperatures of 50 to 70 F (10-21 C). Little infection occurs below 45 F (7 C). The incidence of infection is greatest when rains wash the overwintered spores into the bud and cool temperatures lengthen the time that the emerging leaves are exposed to the pathogen, before they are fully expanded and can resist penetration by the fungus. When temperatures following bud swell are warm and early leaf development is rapid, infections rarely become established, even when spring rains occur. http://www.caf.wvu.edu/kearneysville/dis...