Exploring Taphrina deformans, the Springtime Scourge of Peach

Clotilde Nigon, Morgane Roth, Bénédicte Quilot

Molecular Plant Pathology27, no. 6: e70299. https://doi.org/10.1111/mpp.70299.

This review on peach leaf curl (Taphrina deformans) provides a comprehensive synthesis of current scientific knowledge on this major pathogen of peach orchards. In particular, we present a novel life-cycle diagram of T. deformans, placing the different developmental stages of the fungus in the context of the tree’s phenological phases throughout the year.

The review compiles current knowledge on host–pathogen interactions, epidemiological processes, resistance mechanisms, and resistant peach cultivars, while critically identifying the major gaps that remain in our understanding of this disease.

Topics covered:

• Taxonomy and biology of the pathogen
• Symptoms and epidemiology
• Life cycle of T. deformans
• Plant–pathogen interactions
• Orchard disease management strategies
• Prospects for breeding and the development of resistant cultivars

This review is intended both for researchers, by highlighting several underexplored research avenues, and for stakeholders in the peach and nectarine industry seeking to deepen their understanding of this disease. We hope it will serve as a valuable resource for both the scientific community and industry professionals.

Adapted from the article Nigon & al 2026