FUNGI AFFECTING THE PEACH 



The Peach Leaf=curl 



Taphrina deformans 



It often happens that in spring, soon after the 

 leaves begin to expand, the foliage of peach trees be- 

 comes curled and misshapen. The 

 leaves are usually thickened and 

 discolored, and fall off in a short 

 time. All the branches may be 

 attacked, or the injury may be 

 confined to only a part of the tree. 

 AYhen the disease is severe the 

 young fruits fall off, and the crop 

 for the year is destroyed. The 

 defoliated trees soon push out a 

 uew set of leaves, but too late to 

 repair the damage done to the 

 fruit crop. 



This leaf-curl is most injuri- 

 ous during wet springs. It often 

 ruins the peach crop over large 

 areas. It is uncertain in its 

 attacks, and comparatively little 

 is known of tlie life-history of the 

 fun o us which causes it. 



If a thin section of one of the 

 swollen leaves be placed under a 

 high power of the microscoi^e, the 

 FIG. 36. TEACH LEAF-CURL, threads of thc myccliiim of the 

 fungus can be seen between the leaf cells, and sometimes 

 extending through them. The mycelium is most abund- 



67 



