Purple disease is a fungal disease that affects peach, apricot, nectarine and almond trees. It is feared because it occurs in wet winters and infects the plant within a few hours due to the continuous wetness.
How do you prevent curl disease on nectarine trees?
The curl disease on the nectarine tree is caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans and shows itself in thickened, deformed and reddish leaves. Organic plant strengtheners or the plant protection product Compo Duaxo Universal Fungus-Free (€11.00 at Amazon) can help preventively.
The characteristics of curl disease
The curl disease not only affects the nectarine tree, but also peach and apricot trees. It is clearly visible on the leaves and has these characteristics:
- wavy protuberances and thickenings
- in the colors yellow-green to reddish
- new shoots grow compressed
- the leaves are bunched and deformed
- the affected leaves and fruits fall off prematurely
The cause of frizz disease
The curl disease on the nectarine tree is caused by a fungus. The so-called Taphrina deformans is feared because it survives the winter months as a fungal network and infects trees. When temperatures rise above 10 degrees Celsius, curl disease spreads. The fungal mycelium breaks down into small cells that spread through precipitation and infect the leaves and flower buds that have not yet developed.
The consequences of the frizz disease
After the leaves emerge, curl disease becomes visible on the nectarine tree. The young leaves are reddish in color, deformed and blistered. A whitish fungal coating forms on their upper side, the spores of which colonize the shoot buds without any further damage becoming visible. The affected leaves fall off early. This reduces the frost hardiness of the nectarine tree, which is where the real danger of curl disease lies.
Preventive measures against frizz disease
Preventative measures against curl disease in the nectarine tree include natural plant strengthening and chemical treatment. The ideal time for natural care that strengthens the plant is the end of January. Beforehand, all fruit mummies and the deformed shoot tips are removed and disposed of with household waste.
- The entire crown of the nectarine tree is thoroughly sprayed from all sides with an organic plant strengthener. This procedure is repeated three to four times after two to three weeks.
- A chemical treatment is carried out using the plant protection product Compo Duaxo Universal Fungus-Free (€11.00 at Amazon), which is approved for home gardens. It is carried out at least three times and repeated after seven to ten days.
Tips & Tricks
Very successful in the fight against curly disease and also against fungal infestation in general is an extract from field horsetail, which brings a significant improvement both preventatively and in acute illnesses.
