CurlyLeaf Disease on my peach tree - Ask Extension
I have a peach and an ornamental pear tree (however it now has fruit) in my backyard in Farmington MI. I have noticed that the leaves on both trees ha...
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CurlyLeaf Disease on my peach tree #835800
Asked June 15, 2023, 1:14 PM EDT
I have a peach and an ornamental pear tree (however it now has fruit) in my backyard in Farmington MI. I have noticed that the leaves on both trees have leaves that are deformed, warty and curled, consequently they are dropping off. I have worked very hard to grow these trees and now they are about 6' . I am scared this will destroy my trees. I looked up the leaves on line and it indicates curly leaf disease. I want to know what I can do to save my trees and am hoping that you can offer some advice.
Anything is greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Denise Weiss
Oakland County Michigan
Expert Response
Thanks for your question. Could you provide a close up photo of the leaves and another photo of the whole trees. This will help us with identifying the issue.
Hello,
This information is from the MSU Article - Treat peach leaf curl now - Mark Longstroth and Bill Shane, Michigan State University Extension - March 13, 2012, at this link:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/treat_peach_leaf_curl_now
PLEASE NOTICE THE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE – IT IS THE MIDDLE OF MARCH – YOUR FIRST SPRAY WILL BE AROUND THE MIDDLE OF MARCH - In spring, just before bud swell.
For peach growers, the first spray of the year is to control “curl leaf” or peach leaf curl. Peach leaf curl is an important disease in Michigan. This disease can defoliate peach and nectarine trees. The fungus that causes peach leaf curl overwinters on the tree. Infections take place in the spring as the buds open. The fungus infects peach buds from bud swell to bud opening under wet conditions. Air temperatures between 50 to 70°F are ideal. Rain or dew moves spores into the opening buds, allowing the infection of young tissue. The disease requires about 10 to 11 hours of wetness for infection to occur. Prolonged cool, wet periods during bud burst can result in severe infections. Early spring applications at or before bud break are effective in controlling this disease.
Effective controls include Bravo, Ziram, Carbamate, and copper compounds. Most growers try to use copper early. If you believe an infection may have already occurred, you are better off using Bravo or Ziram rather than copper because these materials are more effective after infection. Later applications can reduce the severity of the disease. Copper compounds have the added benefit of providing some suppression of bacterial spot as well. (See Bill Shane’s article on copper compounds used on fruit - SEE BELOW). If you are going to use copper, be sure to use the rate of 4 to 8 pounds of metallic copper per acre. Some product labels may recommend less, and some Michigan growers have been disappointed with lower rates. Peach growers in Berrien County, Mich., are already putting on their copper sprays now.
Whatever products you use, READ AND FOLLOW THE LABELS ON THE CONTAINER!!
Once leaves are infected, there is no effective fungicide treatment. The leaves are infected in the bud; once they have emerged, they are no longer susceptible to infection. Infected leaves become crinkled, turning orange or red. The leaves become thick and powdery with spores as the fungus sporulates. Infected leaves eventually fall off. The tree will grow new leaves.
Peach leaf curl weakens the tree by removing leaves during early growth. This reduces the energy the tree can absorb from the sun, weakening the tree and reducing growth and fruit size. Heavy fruit thinning reduces stress on the tree and increases the likelihood of a marketable crop. Severely infected trees should receive an increased ration of nitrogen fertilizer. This will help the tree replace lost leaves and maintain vigor.
Copper formulations for fruit crops - Bill Shane, Michigan State University Extension, and George Sundin, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Plant Pathology - April 12, 2011, at this link:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/copper_formulations_for_fruit_crops
Additional Information:
Management:
Spores become lodged under bud scales in autumn, overwinter, and then initiate primary infection in the spring. This disease is easily controlled with one well-timed fungicide application either in autumn when 90% of the leaves have fallen or in spring just before bud swell. From the article: Peach leaf curl - Taphrina deformans (Berk.) Tul. - MSU - IPM at this link:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/diseases/peach_leaf_curl
I hope this helps!
This information is from the MSU Article - Treat peach leaf curl now - Mark Longstroth and Bill Shane, Michigan State University Extension - March 13, 2012, at this link:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/treat_peach_leaf_curl_now
PLEASE NOTICE THE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE – IT IS THE MIDDLE OF MARCH – YOUR FIRST SPRAY WILL BE AROUND THE MIDDLE OF MARCH - In spring, just before bud swell.
For peach growers, the first spray of the year is to control “curl leaf” or peach leaf curl. Peach leaf curl is an important disease in Michigan. This disease can defoliate peach and nectarine trees. The fungus that causes peach leaf curl overwinters on the tree. Infections take place in the spring as the buds open. The fungus infects peach buds from bud swell to bud opening under wet conditions. Air temperatures between 50 to 70°F are ideal. Rain or dew moves spores into the opening buds, allowing the infection of young tissue. The disease requires about 10 to 11 hours of wetness for infection to occur. Prolonged cool, wet periods during bud burst can result in severe infections. Early spring applications at or before bud break are effective in controlling this disease.
Effective controls include Bravo, Ziram, Carbamate, and copper compounds. Most growers try to use copper early. If you believe an infection may have already occurred, you are better off using Bravo or Ziram rather than copper because these materials are more effective after infection. Later applications can reduce the severity of the disease. Copper compounds have the added benefit of providing some suppression of bacterial spot as well. (See Bill Shane’s article on copper compounds used on fruit - SEE BELOW). If you are going to use copper, be sure to use the rate of 4 to 8 pounds of metallic copper per acre. Some product labels may recommend less, and some Michigan growers have been disappointed with lower rates. Peach growers in Berrien County, Mich., are already putting on their copper sprays now.
Whatever products you use, READ AND FOLLOW THE LABELS ON THE CONTAINER!!
Once leaves are infected, there is no effective fungicide treatment. The leaves are infected in the bud; once they have emerged, they are no longer susceptible to infection. Infected leaves become crinkled, turning orange or red. The leaves become thick and powdery with spores as the fungus sporulates. Infected leaves eventually fall off. The tree will grow new leaves.
Peach leaf curl weakens the tree by removing leaves during early growth. This reduces the energy the tree can absorb from the sun, weakening the tree and reducing growth and fruit size. Heavy fruit thinning reduces stress on the tree and increases the likelihood of a marketable crop. Severely infected trees should receive an increased ration of nitrogen fertilizer. This will help the tree replace lost leaves and maintain vigor.
Copper formulations for fruit crops - Bill Shane, Michigan State University Extension, and George Sundin, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Plant Pathology - April 12, 2011, at this link:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/copper_formulations_for_fruit_crops
Additional Information:
Management:
Spores become lodged under bud scales in autumn, overwinter, and then initiate primary infection in the spring. This disease is easily controlled with one well-timed fungicide application either in autumn when 90% of the leaves have fallen or in spring just before bud swell. From the article: Peach leaf curl - Taphrina deformans (Berk.) Tul. - MSU - IPM at this link:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/diseases/peach_leaf_curl
I hope this helps!
