LE QUOTIDIEN DU JARDIN : CLOQUE DU PÊCHER, QUI EST CETTE MALADIE, COMMENT TRAITER ? (émission N°151)

NewsJardinTV, the channel that unleashes passion for plants, gardens, botany, nature, and gardening, is pleased to present this issue 151 of its daily show: "Le Quotidien du Jardin." Patrick Mioulane, editor-in-chief of NewsJardinTV, responds to our subscriber TheEnrugoproxy, who asked us the following question: What do you recommend for fighting peach leaf curl? Peach leaf curl is a fungal disease caused by a fungus (Taphrina deformans), which seriously harms peach and nectarine trees. It gets its name from the characteristic swellings on infected leaves. Peach leaf curl attacks young shoots. Affected leaves change color, turning red or yellowish-green because the presence of mycelium in the leaf blade cells alters the chlorophyll. The leaves take on a twisted, curled, and spiral appearance, then thicken and blister as the infestation progresses. The red color gradually fades, while a grayish or powdery deposit of fungal spores forms on the upper leaf surface. Diseased leaves turn brown, wilt, and drop in late June or early July. The dormant buds often awaken and allow new foliage to appear. Furthermore, as the leaves develop and mature, they become less vulnerable to infection. The affected terminal shoots are abnormally short, with a swollen appearance and a pale green or yellow color. They produce only blistered leaves and eventually die back. Gummy discharge frequently occurs. Fruit set is already problematic the year of infection, most often with premature drop, but fruiting is very reduced or nonexistent the following year. The tree exhibits increased sensitivity to cold, often dying after 3 to 5 years of successive attacks due to premature leaf drop. The spores of the fungus (Taphrina deformans) are produced on the leaves of infected peach trees and lodge on the twigs, where they remain until the following spring. The spores then migrate into the buds as soon as they emerge from their winter dormancy, begin to swell, and then open. Cool (between 7 and 12°C) and humid weather during bud break favors the proliferation of peach leaf curl, the effects of which are then more devastating. Conversely, heavy dew, light rain, and early warm weather in spring hinder the spread of the disease. Peach leaf curl does not present the same severity in all regions. In the Île-de-France region, for example, a peach tree will be completely defoliated if it is not protected with appropriate treatment. Only preventative measures are effective; treatments carried out in late spring, after the buds have opened, or during the summer, have no effect. Two intervention periods must be remembered: late autumn, when two-thirds of the leaves have fallen, and early spring, before the buds have opened. This is the time to protect the tree with copper, which is the only active ingredient approved and authorized for amateur gardens. Spray with Bordeaux mixture or copper oxychloride, a more effective substance against peach leaf curl. To prevent the spread of peach leaf curl, cut back young, infected shoots at the first symptoms and collect diseased fruit and leaves that have fallen prematurely. As always when it comes to plant care, there are tips you can always try without expecting miracles: • Incorporate pieces of copper pipe or old zinc guttering at least 20 cm² into the soil near the roots: it is said that after 2 years, peach leaf curl has disappeared! To prevent the disease, some recommend planting garlic at the base of the tree. It is more effective to spray garlic essential oil as a preventative measure, which can replace copper, and test the effectiveness of orange essential oil (Oriange de Solabiol) on this disease. Finally, check that the soil is not lacking in zinc and boron, two trace elements that actually strengthen the plant's natural resistance. Thank you for watching this daily program. We hope you enjoyed our video. Our team wishes you a pleasant stay and invites you tomorrow starting at 7 p.m. for a new episode of our show: "LE QUOTIDIEN DU JARDIN." It's on NewsJardinTV and nowhere else! Patrick will answer this question: I just saw a report saying that the 'Emera' rose has received an international award. Can you tell me more about this variety?