Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00001671
11/12/99
Leaf Curl and Leaf Gall:
Symptoms: Leaf curl and leaf gall are the more serious of
the leaf blister diseases. Leaves become puffy and the
tissue is thickened, puckered and brittle. The puckering
distorts the shape of the leaf, causing it to curl. Often
the puckered areas are different colors than the green
leaf tissues.
Cause: One genus of fungus, Taphrina, causes most of the
blistering diseases on numerous trees and shrubs. This
fungus invisibly remains on the bare branches after leaves
have fallen and multiplies there in early spring. Rains
splash the fungus onto emerging leaves. The disease is
most severe when leaf emergence and elongation occur
during rainy weather. The disease is most common on
non-bearing, flowering cultivars of peach, cherry and
plum.
Control: Apply a single dormant spray before bud break to
the bare branches and trunk. More extensive fungicide
spray programs can be used to control leaf curl, but the
homeowner might best consider replacing the plant if the
disease renders the plant unsightly despite a dormant
spray.
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This file was generated from data base ZZ on 01/19/00.
Data base ZZ was last revised on 11/12/99.
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