How to cure peach curl, methods of control and prevention of the disease

Peach leaf curl is the main symptom of a viral infectious plant disease, which, due to untimely treatment, leads to a decrease in yield and death of these cultivated plants. Therefore, knowledge about the factors in the development of this most dangerous disease and methods of combating it can help not only stop the pathology itself, but also prevent secondary infection of the crop.

What kind of disease is this

A common disease - peach curl - is caused by the gymnosparous fungus Taphrina, of the order Tafrinaceae, penetrating into the structure of the tree through buds and cracks on the shoots. Often this fungus infects annual and biennial shoots with young leaves located on them, in an age period of 5 to 8 days. Infection of peach leaves aged two weeks and older does not occur or occurs but is extremely rare.

Immune varieties

It is impossible to guarantee one hundred percent that one or another type of peach will not be infected with the described fungus.

However, it’s still worth a try and choose a variety with better resistance to this most dangerous disease. Moreover, there are varieties of peach in the form of varieties Early Kuban, Sochnogo, Favorita Morettini, Pamyati Rodionov, Redhaven, Kievsky Early, Saturn, September Yellow, which are not susceptible to infection by the fungus.

Causes and factors of disease manifestation

At the initial stage of the disease, the lower surface of young leaves is covered with a whitish coating formed by marsupial sporulation of this fungus.

The causative agent of the described disease spends its wintering in the form of budding ascospores between the scales of the buds or in cracks in the bark of trees. And weather favorable for the fungus with rain, dampness and coolness provokes its development and further infection of the tree. That is why the arrival of spring can contribute to a new outbreak of the disease.

Signs of tree infection

Curliness in the described culture initially manifests itself in the form of greenish swellings on the leaf plate, which subsequently turn red and darken.The tissues of the leaves thicken, and due to underdevelopment and uneven growth, they curl. Infected leaves, covered with a so-called waxy coating, turn black over time, dry out and die.

Tree branches are also subject to infection, which manifests itself in the form of:

• gum formation;
• shoot deformations;
• visible yellowness;
• drying.

After the foliage dies, the ovaries also die.

How dangerous is the disease?

In advanced cases, when affected by the described fungus, against the background of loss of ovaries and shoots, the tree slows down its growth. Peach fruits lose their taste and become unfit for consumption.

The winter hardiness of the crop decreases. In winter, the affected shoots die, the tree becomes susceptible to frost, and then, during the fruiting period, ceases to produce crops.

Without treatment, literally after a few years, the infected peach crop dies.

Timing of treatment procedures

Trees should be treated against infestations and pests at least 4 times to guarantee crop protection and high yields.

The peach crop must be processed in the spring, step by step, in compliance with the timing of treatment procedures:

• early spring - late February, early March;
• in the spring - in the second ten days of March, until the buds form and bloom;
• at the height of spring, which occurs at the beginning of April, before the buds begin to emerge;
• in early May, immediately after flowering.

Also, the treatment is carried out in the field of falling leaves.

This sequence of procedures will help prevent infection and increase resistance to diseases.

Treatment methods

It is difficult to save a crop affected by curl, but thanks to complex treatment methods it is possible.However, this must be done in stages, following the advice of experts.

Removing Infected Foliage

The process of pruning followed by burning of infected foliage and shoots is the most important and integral method of combating fungal disease in the form of curl.

Such actions must be carried out in May, at the moment when obvious signs of the described disease appear. Based on the opinions of knowledgeable gardeners, it is necessary to remove the affected parts of the tree in stages for greater efficiency.

For example, the first pruning can be done during the growing season, after flowering. The second procedure is to carry out before the spores of the described fungus begin to spread.

Spraying

Another, no less important, way to combat peach leaf curl is the spraying method.

It is necessary to spray the peach tree strictly following the attached instructions, as well as in calm and not rainy weather, to prevent washing off of the products used for treatment.

As a preventive measure, spraying is carried out in the spring-autumn period and after the growing season.

Preparations for treatment

Fungal disease must be treated comprehensively, using biological, chemical and folk remedies.

New generation products

To combat fungal pathology, the latest means are used, the development of which was based on viruses, bacteria and even toxins, whose inhibitory effect, during experiments, negatively affected pests and diseases of the garden.

Such new generation tools include:

• Planriz is a biological product for protection against fungal and bacterial diseases, used to treat the root area of ​​a crop in a ratio of 330 milliliters per bucket of water;
• Trichodermin is a drug with an inhibitory effect and the ability to develop some resistance to re-infection with the fungus.

Important! The use of the above-described products used to treat fruit trees against fungus must be started armed with special breathing masks, and only if you follow the recommendations given in the attached annotation.

Folk recipes

Experienced gardeners often use folk remedies to combat infection in the form of, for example:

1. Infusion of tobacco, prepared from one kilogram of tobacco mixture and filled with 5 liters of water. The product is infused for three days, and then diluted with water in a ratio of 1:2. Spray immediately and, to consolidate the effect, again after half a month.
2. Mixed components - slaked lime, clay and water in a ratio of 90 grams/350 grams/10 liters. Trees that have been infected are treated immediately after preparing the solution.

Application of clay

A classic folk remedy includes clay (350 grams), mixed in water (10 liters) and mixed with lime (90 grams). The resulting homogeneous emulsion is a so-called adsorbent and a means of feeding the tree with minerals.

Modern chemicals

Treatment with chemicals is carried out in the spring at all stages, but with some alternation, since such drugs are addictive. The main chemicals that have proven themselves to be positive include:

1. Copper sulfate, which has a suppressive effect on curl and other diseases of peach.Treatment is carried out in the spring with copper sulfate mixed with water in proportions of 300 grams/5 liters.
2. Skor is a fast-acting fungicide; diluted with water in a ratio of 2 milliliters/8 liters of water.

Treatment with Bordeaux mixture

Regular treatment with 3% Bordeaux mixture for peach leaf curl disease almost always gives a positive result. But it is more advisable to use the product in the fight against curliness, which has been going on for several years.

How to prevent re-infection

Prevention of re-infection involves carrying out agrotechnical measures aimed at pruning and destroying infected parts of the tree, as well as treatment in the form of spraying in the spring-autumn period before and after the growing season.