DISEASE
 
   NAME
     Peach Leaf Curl
     Taphrina deformans

Description
Fungus problem

Symptoms
This fungus attacks leaf and fruit.  Emerging leaves are infected; these become bright pink from bud and darken to red.  As the leaves grow, they become thick, distorted, curled and puckered, and eventually shrivel then fall.  Whitish spores appear on the thickened leaves before falling.  Infected fruit produces reddish blotches and young contaminated fruit normally fall.

  Puckered foliage

Source and Dispersal
This fungus is found in other infected plants and overwinters in the bud scales.  Fruiting bodies are spread by wind.

Favoured Conditions
Plants are attacked during the early blossoming period in spring and prefer a climate that is wet and cold followed by warm humid days.
	
Affected Plants
The main hosts are peaches and nectarines or occasionally almonds and apricots with some varieties being more susceptible.  

Aesculus californica is infected by the leaf curl fungus (Taphrina species) causing the leaves to become galled  with bulges on the upper surface and curled. In some cases it may cause the leaves to drop. Control methods are not normally recommended other than proper cultural care of the plant.

Non-chemical Control
There is no satisfactory non-chemical control.  Remove and destroy infected parts.

Chemical Control
Preventative chemical applications are the only satisfactory control of this fungus.  Once symptoms have been identified it is too late to treat the plant in that season but should be noted and in the following season a preventative spray such as Bordeaux mixture, copper oxychloride or copper hydroxide can be applied.
Note
Always read the label for registration details and direction of use prior to application of any chemicals.