LEAF BLISTER

also called leaf curl worldwide disease of many woody plants and ferns caused by fungi of the genus Taphrina. Following cold, wet weather at budbreak, leaves become swollen, crinkled, and distorted with yellow, red, purple, brown, whitish, or gray blisters. Such leaves usually die and drop early, weakening the plant. A second growth of healthy leaves often appears later. Young peach and nectarine fruits may drop early or are knobby with discoloured warty spots; plum fruits become greatly swollen, distorted, and hollow (plum pockets); witches'-brooms may form on alder, Amelanchier, apricot, birch, cherry, cherry laurel, California buckeye, and plum stems; alder and poplar catkins are enlarged and deformed.