- Author: Lauren Fordyce
Spring is just around the corner and many types of fruit trees are starting to develop their leaves. If you are growing peaches or nectarines and are now seeing symptoms of peach leaf curl on new leaves, unfortunately it's too late to manage the disease.
According to University of California research, peach leaf curl can only be effectively managed during the fall and winter, after leaves have dropped but before buds swell in spring. After bud break (when new buds begin to open), you may notice symptoms on new leaves but at this point, there are no effective controls. Pesticides used against peach leaf curl prevent the disease as opposed to curing it. Currently there are no verified curative methods for controlling peach leaf curl during the growing season.
Peach leaf curl is a fungal disease that primarily affects peach and nectarine trees. Its spores overwinter on the twigs and flower buds, and germinate in the spring causing distorted, reddened leaves. If left untreated for several years, trees can decline and may need to be removed. In some cases, peach leaf curl can also affect fruit quality.
During the dormant season (fall and winter), spray affected trees with a fungicide containing the active ingredients copper or chlorothalonil. These active ingredients can be used alternately to limit copper buildup in the soil. Horticultural oils and other fungicides have not proven to be effective against peach leaf curl. Always read the label of the pesticide product you want to use and verify that it is labeled to treat the pest you are dealing with. To learn more about pesticide active ingredients and their potential toxicity, see the UC IPM Pesticide Active Ingredient Database.
To learn more about this disease and its management, visit the UC IPM Pest Notes: Peach Leaf Curl.
Peach leaf curl is a fungal disease that only affects peach and nectarine trees. The fungus causes distorted, reddened leaves to appear on the tree in the spring. While many peach and nectarine trees don't begin to show obvious symptoms of peach leaf curl until the spring, the time to manage the disease is in late fall and winter.
If left untreated for several years, trees can decline and need to be removed. In some cases, peach leaf curl can affect the quality of fruit too.
To effectively control peach leaf curl, spray an appropriate fungicide in the fall or winter, after leaf drop but before flower buds swell in the spring. The fungal spores overwinter on peach and nectarine twigs and flower buds. If left untreated, the spores will germinate in the spring, especially in years with heavy rainfall. In Northern California you can usually treat trees starting in late November. In Southern California you can usually start in early January. A single treatment while the tree is dormant is generally advisable, but in areas that get a lot of rainfall, you may want to spray again later in the dormant season.
Numerous copper-based fungicides are available to effectively treat peach leaf curl when used according to label instructions. Always read the product label before buying or using a pesticide. Use only the rate listed on the label to avoid fungicide resistance and avoid making applications before it rains.
For more management information, see the UC IPM Pest Notes: Peach Leaf Curl and Pesticides: Safe and Effective Use in the Home and Landscape.
- Author: Trina Kleist, UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences
Crisosto y su equipo publican un manual para cultivar duraznos y mantener la calidad para la conserva
En un huerto experimental a pocos kilómetros al oeste del campus de UC Davis, Thomas Gradziel arrancó una nectarina casi madura de uno de los árboles. Sacó una navaja y cortó jugosos trozos para que Carlos Crisosto los probara. Ambos son expertos en cultivos hortícolas del Departamento de Ciencias Vegetales de la UC Davis, y a los dos les encantan los duraznos.
Los dos emitieron sonidos apreciativos mientras paseaban el sabor de la fruta por sus paladares, comentaron cómo se comparaba esta variedad de nectarina con otras, y rápidamente pasaron a los detalles de la producción y la gestión del huerto.
Crisosto y Gradziel han volcado décadas de experiencia con frutas de huerta en la creación de "Peach", un manual de referencia sobre cultivo y consideraciones poscosecha publicado por CABI. El libro forma parte de la serie Crop Production Science in Horticulture de la editorial académica internacional.
Este seguirá siendo el texto definitivo probablemente durante los próximos 20 años", afirma Carlos Crisosto, uno de los editores y autores del libro. Crisosto es profesor distinguido del Departamento de Ciencias Vegetales de la UC Davis y especialista de Extensión Cooperativa de la UC en calidad del consumidor y tecnología poscosecha en Agricultura y Recursos Naturales de la UC.
Los capítulos tratan también de portainjertos, cultivares, gestión del agua, fertilización, crecimiento y aclareo de la fruta, pruebas de madurez y gestión de la cadena de suministro tras la cosecha. Varios capítulos más tratan de plagas y enfermedades, mantenimiento de la calidad de la fruta, aspectos nutricionales y enlatado.
Ha sido un placer contribuir a este libro, ya que incluye información de colegas expertos, además de nuevas y emocionantes ideas y aplicaciones de nuestros recientes investigadores", dijo Gradziel, profesor de UC Davis y fitomejorador.
En California, los agricultores cultivaron 36.800 acres de duraznos, produciendo 505.000 toneladas de fruta por valor de más de 378 millones de dólares en 2021. Si bien el cultivo ocupa el puesto 23 en el estado, basado en los ingresos en efectivo, California es el productor número 1 de duraznos para todo Estados Unidos, según el Departamento de Alimentos y Agricultura de California.
Peach contiene más datos curiosos: Los duraznos pertenecen a la familia de las rosáceas, China es el mayor productor de esta fruta (produce el 60% de la cosecha mundial), y los líderes de la industria anhelan árboles con una copa plana para que la fruta madure toda más o menos al mismo tiempo y pueda recolectarse fácilmente a máquina, reduciendo la presión de encontrar personas que recojan la fruta a mano.
Peach está disponible en libro electrónico y en versión papel. Ambos cuestan 80 dólares cada uno.
Para obtener una vista previa y encargar los capítulos del libro electrónico, visite bit.ly/PeachBook. Obtenga un 20% de descuento con el código CCAB20 durante el proceso de compra en línea. El libro de bolsillo de 424 páginas puede encargarse en https://bit.ly/PeachPaperback.
El personal de ventas de la editorial para Norteamérica y Sudamérica tiene su sede en Herndon, Virginia, y puede ponerse en contacto con ellos en StylusMail@PressWarehouse.com, (703) 661-1581 o (800) 232-0223.
Este libro sobre el durazno complementa nuestra publicación anterior, "Manual de manipulación postcosecha de frutas de árbol y frutos secos mediterráneos", dijo Crisosto. "Estas dos publicaciones contienen información puntera sobre producción y poscosecha que sirve de apoyo a nuestros centros de investigación e información, a la misión de la UC ANR y a nuestra enseñanza académica".
Adaptado al español por Diana Cervantes del artículo en inglés.
- Author: Anne Schellman
What is a Deciduous Fruit tree?
Deciduous fruit trees lose their leaves in fall, and include apple, pear, fig, pomegranate, nectarine, cherry, apricot, peach, and plum.
Planting New Trees & Understanding Where Fruit Originates
Sometimes a fruit tree mysteriously dies, and the gardener isn't sure what happened. A common cause is a tree that was planted too deeply. Root and crown rot slowly affect the tree, causing it to die years later. Watch the detailed instructions on how to plant correctly.
It's important to understand how new fruit develops and grows on the tree. Not all deciduous fruit trees produce fruit in the same place. It's important to know this so you don't accidentally cut off fruit spurs and damage your tree's ability to produce fruit. See this video for guidance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4fgVrf8XHE&t=250s
Publication - Fruit Trees: Planting and Care of Young Trees https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=8048
Fruit Trees: Training and Pruning Deciduous Trees https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=8057
Keeping New Trees Small – the Fruit Bush Method
Tired of out-of-control fruit trees? If you are planting a new tree, watch this video! It details the Fruit Bush Method, a specific way of keeping fruit trees small. See photos of 5-6' tall fruit trees planted over 30 years ago that continue to produce an ample amount of fruit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry4YAp6NzdI&t=1s
Pruning Established Trees
Other Helpful Publications
Fruit Trees: Thinning Young Fruit https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=8047
What about Citrus Trees?
Citrus trees such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, lime, and kumquats are evergreen trees and need different care than deciduous trees. It's not recommended to prune citrus trees at the same time as deciduous fruit trees. Wait until spring to prune your tree for size and shape.
We are offering an online class on citrus on January 31, so watch for our registration advertisement in about a week. Locally, we will be teaching at 8 library locations about citrus during March.
/h3>/h3>/h3>/h3>/h3>/h3>- Author: Anne Schellman
Deciduous Fruit Trees
Deciduous fruit trees lose their leaves each winter. These trees include apple, pear, cherry, nectarine, peach, plum, and apricot; it does not include citrus or avocado trees, which are evergreen.
What is a Bare Root Fruit Tree?
A “bare root” fruit tree is a tree sold in its dormant state. The tree has no leaves, is not actively growing, and is sold without a pot. When you choose your tree, a store employee pulls it out of a large container with other trees that is filled with sawdust. The tree roots are wrapped with moistened newspaper, and then covered over with butcher paper and tied with a string. You'll be advised to take it home and plant it right away. Some garden centers may sell bare root fruit trees in plastic bags. If the material around the roots is moist and the roots have not dried out, the tree should be healthy.
Choosing a Fruit Tree
I have a Small Yard or an Apartment, Can I have a Fruit Tree?
Deciduous fruit trees as well as evergreen fruit trees get very large. Fruit trees grafted onto dwarfing rootstock and labeled “genetic dwarf” are smaller than semi-dwarf and standard trees, however they have extensive roots and are not recommended for containers. One exception is the kumquat, a sweet and tangy citrus fruit. Small yards can have fruit trees, but you have to start your tree out right for this to work.
If you live in an apartment and want fruit, you can grow your own blueberries or strawberries in containers. See our publications:
Blueberries in Your Garden https://ucanr.edu/sites/CEStanislausCo/files/111737.pdf
Strawberries in Your Garden https://ucanr.edu/sites/CEStanislausCo/files/111651.pdf
Registration Open for our Free Class
We hope to “see” you at our Planting and Pruning Bare Root Fruit Trees Zoom class at the end of the month! If you miss it, you can find it later on our YouTube Channel.
When: Tuesday, January 25, 2022 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Register at: http://ucanr.edu/bareroot2022
Instructors: Hector Vera-Uribe and Johnny Mullins